The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 91

Chapter 91
## Chapter 91. Time for the Hunt (5)

“It is verified. They confirm that the vessel is indeed the one chartered entirely by the Azure Sky Merchant Guild.”

Following the report from the man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, a youthful man who seemed barely twenty gave a nod of understanding.

“In that case, position the combatants throughout this sector. Since they mentioned the distance was a single day’s travel, their arrival should be imminent.”

Prompted by the youth’s instructions, the man gave an affirmative nod, guiding the combatants to take up strategic positions across one of the piers near Zhenjiang.

“Sigh…….”

“Does this situation trouble you, Senior Brother Gi-pung?”

Responding to the inquiry from Jang Un-je, who accompanied him for the Regular Exam, Lee Gi-pung offered a nod of agreement.

“Naturally it does. It feels as though my vision and hearing have been entirely obstructed.”

“My thoughts precisely. Why must the main mountain be experiencing such hardships at this exact moment, of all times?”

Lee Gi-pung possessed far more worldly awareness than the naive Jang Un-je. It defied reason that the resources flowing into the main mountain would suddenly plummet, and that their commercial enterprises nationwide would simultaneously face severe disruptions. This was Diancang, after all—a lineage of immense standing.

“According to the rumors I gathered concerning Mount Hua, our plight is not unique. Word is those disciples are receiving even less backing than their predecessors did.”

“Hmph! It seems those individuals chose the wrong faction to align with as well.”

The Mount Hua Sect and the Diancang Sect.

Who in the secular world would possess the audacity to choke the lifelines of these two Great Sects without a second thought?

This was simply the harsh penalty for being marginalized in the inner power struggles of their respective sects.

It was distressing enough to undertake the Regular Exam alongside fighters from Lay-Affiliated Martial Sects rather than the elite disciples of the main mountain, but now that even basic funding was being withheld, it felt as though they had been entirely cast aside by their own lineage.

Furthermore, he had never anticipated that the allied organizations comprising the Nine Sects and One Gang would show such cold calculations when it came to wealth.

“Those miserable beggars.”

The communications delivered via carrier pigeons from the Beggars’ Sect had ceased entirely quite some time ago.

As a consequence, he had been unable to properly navigate both the first and second trials. If this trajectory persisted, his chances of entering the Murim Academy might vanish entirely.

“…….”

The moment the realization of potentially failing the admission to the Murim Academy crossed his mind, a wave of vertigo struck him. Should that occur, an insurmountable chasm would form between himself and the younger disciples remaining at the main mountain.

“We can at least take comfort that Daoist Master Myeonghyeon is extending his assistance. What an incredible blessing.”

“Indeed you are correct!”

Through an extraordinary stroke of fortune, Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, an influential figure within the Murim Alliance, had personally conveyed critical intelligence to him, allowing them to narrowly escape disaster.

“Daoist Master Myeonghyeon has held you in high regard for many years, Senior Brother. He must be deeply troubled by our situation.”

Hearing Jang Un-je’s remark, Lee Gi-pung nodded.

Though the passage of time had caused the memory to fade, he dimly recalled the words shared by Daoist Master Myeonghyeon before the elder was nominated for high office and departed for the Murim Alliance.

“However, Senior Brother…….”

Noticing the hesitation in Jang Un-je’s tone, Lee Gi-pung turned his gaze toward him.

“It might be inappropriate of me to question this, but can we fully rely on the intelligence provided by Daoist Master Myeonghyeon?”

“…… Mosc.”

Remaining silent for a brief interval, Lee Gi-pung eventually shook his head in dismissal.

“Would a figure of Daoist Master Myeonghyeon’s stature indulge in falsehoods?”

“That may be so, but does it not seem somewhat far-fetched to accept the report without any skepticism?”

“…….”

According to the directives from Daoist Master Myeonghyeon, a lone disciple from the Taeul Sect was undertaking the assessment accompanied by a mere three younger martial brothers, yet this individual had managed to seize nine tokens during the initial trial and an additional six during the subsequent phase. Consequently, they were instructed to coordinate with the forces of Mount Hua and Wudang to execute an ambush.

It was information so extraordinary that it strained belief even upon reading, yet because the intelligence originated from Daoist Master Myeonghyeon himself, it could not be lightly dismissed.

The elder had even put them in contact with Song Baek of the Huayang Escort Agency, the most affluent among the secular disciples, to compensate for their lack of information, leaving them with little choice but to place their trust in the plan and proceed accordingly.

Naturally, he had chosen to disregard the directive regarding cooperation with Mount Hua and Wudang.

If Diancang required the combined strength of Mount Hua and Wudang merely to apprehend the low-ranking disciples of the Taeul Sect, how would the martial world view the prestige of Diancang?

Furthermore, there was the critical matter of distributing the spoils obtained from capturing the Taeul Sect disciples. At present, Lee Gi-pung was operating alongside only two younger martial brothers.

If Mount Hua and Wudang were to participate, forcing a multi-party division of the rewards, it was highly probable that his own companions would receive nothing.

“Have you secured the vessel?”

“Yes, the boat is prepared, but…… is such an extreme measure truly necessary?”

Based on the accounts provided by Song Baek, the pursuers tracking the targets had been launching continuous ambushes over the past ten days, completely depriving themselves of sustenance and rest.

They would undoubtedly be exhausted to their absolute limits.

Against a minor group like the Taeul Sect, these measures could be considered an overwhelming preparation.

“Did you fail to comprehend the words of Junior Brother Song Baek? Experienced combatants from the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect are traveling in their company. If pushed to extremes, they might attempt to place only the official exam candidates onto the vessel.”

“In that scenario, after the third trial…… no, they would be disqualified before they could even set foot in the third trial area.”

“Precisely why our arrangements must be flawless. We cannot allow ourselves to prepare a grand feast only for an outsider to reap the benefits, can we?”

He had deliberately ignored the message delivered by carrier pigeon from the Mount Hua Sect, who were presently advancing toward Henan Province, which questioned, ‘For what reason are you traveling toward Jiangsu Province?’

Had he waited in Henan Province, the moment he boarded them onto the vessel, they would have been delivered directly into the waiting traps of Mount Hua and Wudang.

“We must prevent that outcome at all costs.”

Within the docks of Zhenjiang, various individuals who appeared to be candidates for the Regular Exam were distributed across the area.

Yet, none among the gathered crowd seemed to possess the capability to stand as a true rival to Diancang.

“Their arrival should be occurring at any moment…… Mosc.”

Jang Un-je remarked, casting his eyes upward toward the position of the sun.

At that precise instant, a sharp WHIIIISH…… followed by a resounding BOOM echoed through the air.

“…… What was the meaning of that?”

It was unmistakably the sound of a signal flare.

“What does that flare indicate?”

Lee Gi-pung scanned the surroundings, but none of the onlookers showed any notable reaction or movement in response to the signal.

“Senior Brother! Look at the ship! The vessel is departing!”

“What!”

The grand ship of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild had already weighed its anchor, unfurled its massive canvas, and the crew had commenced rowing with great urgency.

“We certainly secured all avenues of approach to ensure no one could pass…….”

At that very moment, adjacent to the moving vessel, he caught sight of two figures—women completely drenched from head to toe—grasping a line and hoisting themselves aboard the deck.

Judging by the deferential manner with which the crew received them, they were clearly individuals of significant status.

“Curse it……! They have chosen to flee while abandoning their own vanguard!”

“What are your orders?”

“There is no time to waste! Split our forces immediately! One detachment will capture their vessel directly, while the remaining force prepares our own boat for launch!”

“Understood!”

It appeared to be a reckless, desperate choice.

They had left their combatants behind on the shore.

While they might successfully evade immediate capture here, how could they possibly endure the rigorous journey following the third trial without their protectors?

“That logic holds true only if they manage to clear this harbor.”

However, the ship belonging to the Azure Sky Merchant Guild began executing an unexpected maneuver.

Led by the two women, the crew members started tossing heavy wooden planks and wooden containers into the rushing waters.

“Are they attempting to reduce the weight of the vessel?”

Lee Gi-pung’s calculations reached no further than that conclusion.

THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD.

A massive contingent of cavalrymen was charging furiously toward their position, kicking up a dense cloud of pale dust.

“S-Senior Brother!”

Jang Un-je, who had been in the midst of preparing to board their vessel, called out to Lee Gi-pung in sheer panic.

“What is the meaning of this madness…….”

“I-It is the Namgung Clan!”

“What? Did they not just abandon their companions to the rear?”

During the historical era when the Demonic Cult initiated its campaign to dominate the martial world, there existed a single military force that proved to be the most formidable obstacle.

The Iron Horse Black Wind Unit.

They engaged in a style of warfare completely alien not only to the masters of the martial world, but even to the imperial military forces.

If one sought a comparison, their tactics mirrored the mounted warfare favored by the nomadic tribes inhabiting the far northern wilderness.

From the perspective of the Murim Alliance, they represented an incredibly grueling adversary because no conventional strategy seemed capable of halting their momentum.

The standard blades and swords wielded by the majority of martial artists failed to pierce the heavy armor shielding the mounts, whereas the extended lances thrust by the Demonic Practitioners from atop those beasts pierced cleanly through the defenses of the foot soldiers.

Most formidable of all was the sheer, terrifying momentum of a charging stallion.

That devastating impact generated by a massive physical weight—far beyond anything a human could muster—was not something that martial artists, caught off guard by the unfamiliar tactic of a coordinated cavalry charge, could easily withstand.

“In essence, this is an advanced battlefield doctrine being deployed a decade ahead of its time.”

The combatants riding hard behind me maintained their pace according to my directives, though the expressions on their faces indicated they found my explanation entirely incomprehensible.

“Young Master! Do we intend to maintain this relentless pace?”

“Do not slacken! Do not entertain any thought of halting. Ride forward as though you intend to gallop straight across the surface of the river!”

“…….”

In circumstances such as these, it was far more effective to emphasize the desirable outcome rather than explaining the intricate logic of the method.

“By doing so, you will secure safe passage alongside the young ladies all the way to the Murim Academy.”

“““Understood, sir!”””

The combined forces of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect bellowed their assent in a deafening roar.

“S-Senior Brother, their speed is not diminishing in the slightest.”

“What did you say?”

Did they truly intend to traverse the deep river current on horseback?

CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG—.

At the absolute vanguard of the formation rode a youth of similar age to himself, clad in a dark martial uniform, leading over a hundred mounted riders who drew their weapons in perfect synchronization.

“All forces, break through!”

“““Waaaaaaah!”””

The fighters belonging to the Lay-Affiliated Martial Sects, whose positioning was already disorganized, found themselves unable to either consolidate their lines or scatter effectively; terrified by the overwhelming pressure of the oncoming cavalry, they began fleeing wildly in every direction.

“D-Do not retreat! H-Hold the line!”

Lee Gi-pung bellowed instinctively in an attempt to rally them against the mounted charge, yet his commands went entirely unheeded.

Left with no alternative, Lee Gi-pung leaped forcefully off the ground.

A single strike.

He required only one decisive technique to shatter the momentum of their charge.

The Sun-Shooting Sword Art, a form that had garnered high praise from Daoist Master Myeonghyeon long ago, manifested in a brilliant display.

The strike was aimed directly at the vital pressure points of the leading rider, the youth dressed in black martial attire who wielded a dark blade.

“Your mastery of the sword falls short even when compared to Jong Byeok-gi.”

“What?”

Hearing the name of an esteemed patriarch he never anticipated encountering from the mouth of an adversary caused Lee Gi-pung’s focused technique to falter for a fraction of a second.

The warrior in the dark uniform capitalized on that precise vulnerability, driving his weapon directly into the flaw of the form.

THUD!

“Gah!”

“Senior Brother!”

Lee Gi-pung’s form was propelled backward through the air at a velocity far exceeding the speed of his initial advance.

CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG.

Following their leader, the mounted unit swept aside any lingering combatants with efficient, single weapon strikes, driving forward without hesitation toward the river’s edge.

What could they possibly hope to accomplish?

The answer to that unspoken query manifested immediately.

Using the black-clad youth at the front as their visual marker, the entirety of the cavalry unit launched themselves from their mounts mid-stride.

SPLASH— SPLASH— SPLASH—

Utilizing the wooden planks and buckets that had been cast adrift by the vessel as temporary footholds, they bounded across the water and began ascending the sides of the ship.

The entire assembly gathered at Zhenjiang who had lain in wait to ambush the Namgung Clan, the Iron Sword Sect, and the Taeul Sect could only watch the spectacle in stunned silence.

She had initially perceived the strategy as an act of absolute recklessness.

“You intend to abandon our mounts?”

“Correct.”

“Would it not be far more prudent to navigate around the perimeter of Hongze Lake instead?”

Upon learning that an extensive blockade, including the forces of Diancang, awaited their arrival at Zhenjiang, Namgung Seon-hwa’s immediate instinct had been to suggest an alternate route.

However, Jin So-un had rejected the notion with a firm shake of his head.

“Should we take such a detour, we will fail to arrive before the deadline for the third trial.”

“…… Even if that is so, what benefit do we gain by discarding our horses?”

“We shall employ a diversionary tactic to facilitate our escape.”

Namgung Seon-hwa alongside Seong Mo-ran would infiltrate Zhenjiang ahead of the main body, approaching the chartered vessel by swimming through the water.

The moment the pair made contact, the ship would immediately begin its departure, drawing the focus and disrupting the defensive lines of the Diancang Sect.

Subsequently, the secondary detachment would execute their boarding maneuver while the vessel was already in motion.

On paper, the plan possessed a certain internal logic, yet the gulf between a conceptual plan and its flawless physical execution was vast.

And yet.

“It actually succeeded.”

Witnessing that highly improbable strategy translate into reality right before her eyes caused every conventional rule of martial combat she knew to vanish completely.

“…… It truly did.”

Seong Mo-ran could only gaze in astonishment at Jin So-un as he glided effortlessly across the floating timber scattered over the river’s surface.

The moment he touched down securely on the deck, Jin So-un immediately seized the remaining planks prepared onboard and began hurling them outward.

Each piece of wood landed with unerring precision beneath the descending feet of the combatants who had misjudged their footing and were on the verge of plunging into the deep current.

“I find it difficult to credit reality despite witnessing it firsthand.”

The combatants under the banners of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect represented the pinnacle of elite forces. In terms of martial progression, they were individuals who had mastered the First-Rate realm and stood poised at the gateway of the Peak realm.

Benefiting from Jin So-un’s precise adjustments, the vast majority of the warriors reached the deck without mishap.

“Young Master Jin! Look to your Junior Brothers!”

The primary concern lay with the three disciples of the Taeul Sect—the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers.

For reasons unknown, Jin So-un had positioned the trio at the absolute rear of the retreating formation.

Geum-pyo and Eun-ho were straining every ounce of their agility techniques to navigate across the floating detritus, yet with each successive leap, they sank into the river up to their ankles.

Worse still, Dong-ryong had already lost his footing entirely and was reduced to swimming through the water.

“Allow me to assist!”

Namgung Seon-hwa immediately prepared to leap from the deck.

“Stay your hand.”

With that concise command, Jin So-un cast a heavy line toward Geum-pyo and Eun-ho, while simultaneously extending his left arm toward the submerged Dong-ryong.

An object resembling the claw of a metallic silver bird erupted from his sleeve, ensnaring Dong-ryong firmly.

“Hup!”

With a sudden exertion of strength, he hauled all three of them inward simultaneously.

Geum-pyo, Eun-ho, and Dong-ryong collapsed onto the deck of the vessel, thoroughly drenched.

“This is precisely the reason I instructed you to diligently refine your agility forms beforehand.”

“Senior Brother! By any objective metric, demanding the mastery of Grass-Skimming Flight from an individual possessing a mere fifteen years of internal cultivation is akin to extortion, is it not?”

“Tsk.”

Despite their superficial grumbling, genuine expressions of relief and amusement were evident on the faces of the three brothers.

They were not alone in their sentiment; the surrounding warriors of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect were also chuckling in disbelief, amazed that they had successfully boarded the vessel without sustaining a single casualty.

WHOOSH— WHOOSH— WHOOSH—

At that precise moment, a volley of projectiles rained down toward the Azure Sky Merchant Guild’s ship.

“They have mobilized their own fleet.”

The forces of Diancang, alongside Song Baek and the various trackers who had relentlessly harassed them throughout their entire trek, quickly launched a multitude of vessels from the docks to give chase.

Some individuals had even boarded small skiffs, rowing with frantic energy.

Every single craft moored within the harbor area seemed to pour out onto the open water, transforming the river into a arena of frantic competition.

“At this pace, they will inevitably overtake us.”

Just as she began to wonder if a detour might have been the wiser path after all.

“…… Huh?”

The ambient atmosphere surrounding the vessel grew incredibly taut, vibrating with sudden intensity.

BOOMBOOMBOOM.

The dark martial uniform worn by Jin So-un expanded outward as though pressurized by immense internal force.

A formidable wave of pure energy, grander than anything she had ever encountered, rippled outward with him serving as the absolute epicenter.

“Y-Young…… Master Jin.”

RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLE.

The sensation was identical to the very heavens fracturing above them.

A cataclysmic energy capable of leveling great peaks and reshaping the land churned violently within the palm of his hand.

In the exact instant she felt herself suffocating, completely immobilized beneath that staggering display of internal power, an immense torrent of palm strikes erupted from Jin So-un’s hand.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMCRASH.

The minor skiffs caught in the periphery utilized the violent displacement of air as an artificial gale, their light hulls propelled rapidly forward.

Conversely, the substantial vessels that had yet to fully clear the confines of the harbor sustained the unmitigated impact of the blast, shattering instantly into kindling.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMCRASH.

Amidst the dense cluster of ships crowding the docks, vessels and crews were suddenly thrown into chaotic entanglement, cast upward into the air as though caught in the vortex of a massive waterspout.

THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHWACK.

Nothing remained where the devastating blast had torn through save for the ruined aftermath of absolute destruction.

“Young Master Jin…….”

“They will lack the means to pursue us further, will they not?”

“That is undeniable, but…… if you commanded such overwhelming power, for what reason did you refrain from deploying it sooner……”

For some inexplicable reason, it felt as though all the desperate struggles they had endured up to this point had been rendered entirely redundant.

“The singular disadvantage of this particular technique is that upon its conclusion, I lose consciousness.”

“What did you say?”

“Lend me your support……”

As those final words left his lips, Jin So-un’s posture gave way, and he began to fall forward exactly as though someone had struck his sleeping acupoint.

Instinctively, Namgung Seon-hwa moved forward, catching his limp form securely against herself.

“S-Someone, please assist me….”

The realization that she was cradling a man in her arms for the very first time in her existence left her completely frozen, utterly unsure of how to proceed.