The Genius Martial Artist Who Remembers Everything - Chapter 199: Uninvited Guest at the Academy (4)
The representative committee meeting proceeded without much fanfare.
"Hyongsan Sect has agreed to take charge of this event," Eunho said, prompting me to tilt my head.
"Take charge? They're not just sending over some shamans?"
"Yes. They've offered to provide the full curriculum on pasa exorcism and jeryeong spirit suppression themselves."
Even when we'd requested shamans, they'd said scheduling issues meant they could only spare some by year's end. If they were hosting the event and running the courses, this would have to be a massive affair on par with something the Murim Alliance might organize. What could possibly motivate Hyongsan Sect to pour so much effort into an event at the Murim Academy, where they had nothing to gain?
"They didn't mention any particular reason, so I didn't pry."
"Hmm... Well, it's good news, but..."
We'd forged a solid connection with Hyongsan Sect during the Mareung Plateau incident, but not enough to move them like this. I had no clue what was driving their sudden involvement.
Then came Seong Moran's cryptic remark.
"Isn't it because of you, Jin Gongja?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"From what I heard, their Demon-Exorcism Talismans sold out like crazy after the Sichuan incident."
"What?"
"Even the Murim Alliance, which has its own methods for exorcism and spirit control, scrambled to buy them up. Word spread among the jianghu warriors, and everyone started treating them as essential protective gear. Prices skyrocketed several times over."
"Ah..."
In short, they'd struck gold and were moving on instinct. Who could've predicted things would play out like this? I hadn't planned it, but Hyongsan Sect had profited from my actions all the same. Time to milk it for all it was worth.
"Works in our favor, anyway."
"Right?"
With Hyongsan Sect handling things, drawing a crowd wouldn't be an issue this time. Even without the Jeongdo Council, tales from Sichuan would pique interest in exorcism and spirit suppression on their own.
"Um... Jin Gongja-nim."
Namgung Seonhwa spoke up more cautiously than usual.
"Yes? What's on your mind?"
"It's about... my grandfather..."
I nodded silently at her hesitant expression.
The "Prestigious Guests Invitation" was originally set for after this event—a showcase where students invited renowned figures from the martial world to flaunt their influence among peers.
Earlier, Namgung Seonhwa had confidently declared she'd bring in the Creation Sword Immortal. Looked like that hadn't panned out.
It figures. The Namgung family has only just stabilized.
The Creation Sword Immortal Namgung Taeha had crushed the collateral branches by innovating the Heaven-Soaring Cloud Sword Technique. But that didn't mean he wielded absolute authority.
Especially now, with Murim Academy full of Namgung Gipyo and other collateral Namgung disciples, plus their allied sect followers, all at odds with Seonhwa. They'd likely invited him too, and with only one body to go around, the Sword Immortal had turned them both down.
"Grandfather didn't outright refuse, so I'll ask again. If that doesn't work, I'll head to the family myself."
Forcing it wouldn't make the impossible happen. Knowing when to step back was key.
I shook my head. "No need. Bugging the Sword Immortal further would just burden him."
Even so, Namgung Seonhwa bowed her head like she'd committed some grave sin. I deliberately built her up more.
"Besides, as a representative, don't you have plenty to handle for me? You're invaluable to me. Wasting time trekking back to the family seat over this? No way."
"...Yes."
She nodded with a faint blush, seeming to understand—but her face still screamed reluctance. She'd probably ask a few more times.
Can't stop her there. The Sword Immortal might show after all.
The "Prestigious Guests" event would be my toughest nut to crack. Everyone expected at least Murim Alliance division heads, so inviting some random merchant guild leader out of the blue? No chance. I'd have to coax out someone reclusive and low-profile...
The second event might be trickier than the opening one for the new semester.
I tabled the thought and pushed the meeting forward. Seong Moran and Hong Saryeon reported on ongoing issues in turn.
Then Jang Ujae spoke up.
"I've gone ahead and shortlisted some capable folks for the representative committee."
I tilted my head at the densely packed list of names on the document.
"Why the sudden staffing push?"
He looked puzzled at my question. "Why? You're handling everything solo right now."
"Paperwork's getting done just fine, isn't it?"
Jang Ujae let out a small sigh. "That's exactly the problem—it's going too smoothly."
"..."
"The committee runs fine solely because of your exceptional abilities. If you're absent like last time, the whole thing could collapse."
Fair point. The temporary break was only because the Sichuan mess was so huge; without the Blood Cult, there'd have been no hiatus at all.
"We're short-staffed overall, but most are from merchant or administrative families, so picking up the ropes won't be hard."
Huh, sharper than I thought.
I nodded in approval, and his voice gained confidence.
"We should also plan to gradually fill out the committee properly."
True—thanks to this mess, I was commuting to the Mantongbu every weekend. With workload ramping up, staffing was priority one.
I eyed Jang Ujae anew with curiosity. How does he know my situation better than I do?
The others were pulling their weight, but Jang Ujae shone in personnel management—the core of efficient operations. One right hire could leverage dozens, hundreds more.
I've got an eye for talent.
I beamed at him warmly. "Anything else?"
He fidgeted under my stare, glancing away sheepishly. I flashed a benevolent smile and shook my head.
"You're doing a stellar job!"
"...N-No, it's just what's expected."
He scratched the back of his head, blushing. Humble too. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Then Nam Hwaseong piped up. "I, uh, for this event..."
"Meeting adjourned."
"...!"
"Huh? Why?"
Nam Hwaseong blinked his cow-like eyes in confusion.
"A spy's input would just sabotage the event."
His face flushed crimson as he slammed the table and shot to his feet.
"Damn it! I'm not a spy!"
"Sure, sure. If you say so."
"I mean it! I'm mobilizing people for the event too!"
"Got it. Let's pretend that's true."
His temper was the first thing to fix.
After wrapping up, I stepped out of the pavilion annex. I'd told folks to stick around for drinks if they wanted or head back to the academy; some rented the space anyway.
Nam Hwaseong latched onto Jang Ujae and Eunho to stay. Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa claimed a craving for booze and joined. Left me heading back to the Murim Academy alone with Saryeon.
It had been ages since we'd had time just the two of us.
"Daesabyeong. You okay with this?"
"With what?"
Worry clouded her face. She'd always fretted over me, even in my past life.
"Nam Hwaseong."
"Ah... that."
"He's a disciple of Samwonmun, top among the Twelve Bongseong. No way he just wandered in innocently."
I nodded at her words. "Could be. But no need to worry too much."
"Why not?"
"Cheol Sunjik's intentions aren't showing in Nam Hwaseong's moves."
"..."
She furrowed her brow, not quite following.
"If it were Cheol Sunjik, he'd have come himself or sent a clear plant. Nam Hwaseong choosing on his own? More likely."
Still anxious, she pursed her lips tight. I chuckled at her fondly.
"Climb higher, and all sorts will flock beneath you. Might even have to work with types like Cheol Sunjik sometimes."
"Higher...?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Think of this as practice for that."
"...Sounds nice."
"Huh? What does?"
Her voice rang out in the cool night air.
"You saying you'll climb higher."
I glanced over; her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, fixed on me.
"You rising means we all rise with you. Tae-eul Gate rises too."
"Exactly."
"Music to my ears."
"..."
She practically skipped like a kid on her birthday. What about my past life? A long-buried memory surfaced.
[Senior Brother Cheol Yeong called an assembly. Everyone, down to the youngest disciple.]
[For Tae-eul Gate's sake... but is this really right?]
[I'm worried. Is this truly for the sect? For our martial siblings?]
When Gye Cheolyeong's recruitment pulled us to the Murim Alliance ahead of schedule, Saryeon had barely slept, eyes wide with dread. Just peering into the uncertain future had been torture for that girl back then.
But now?
"Like you said, Daesabyeong—I'm looking forward to what's ahead!"
She anticipated the future not with anguish, but excitement. Sleepless nights imagining glory, not dread.
"All thanks to you, Daesabyeong."
Her smile was pure, unburdened joy. My heart swelled; I ruffled her hair.
"Saying silly things."
"..."
Her eyes widened at my touch. I spoke with conviction.
"It's what I should do."
Painful past-life memories crashed over me like waves, then receded. Never again would they touch me, my sect, or my precious ones.
She kept her head down, deeply moved again.
"Don't tell me... you're crying from deep emotion again?"
Teasing, I peered at her face—
"...Grrrr."
Huh?
"I told you not to touch my hair!"
She glared daggers and lunged in an instant.
"Ow! Hey! Sahyung, wait!"
It's not like I wouldn't wash up at the dorm anyway—what crime was a little ruffling?
I unleashed Heavenly Lone Walker God Step at full throttle and bolted.
"Stop right there!"
Second life or not, women's hearts were a mystery.
The last day of the temporary break. Regular academy schedule resumed tomorrow. Probably the last time I'd see Yaryul Geuk this often too.
At least he's grasped the basics of U-nyeong Je-gang. Won't just bull-rush like before.
As I tidied my robes, a voice came from behind.
"Sowoon-nim. Shall I prepare breakfast outside again today?"
The maidservant who'd entered the hall asked quietly. I glanced at the training ground, then replied.
"Skip it. He doesn't seem to be coming."
"...Is something wrong?"
"Nothing at all."
Brushing off her concern, I left the hall for the private training ground.
A boulder of a man sat cross-legged in the center.
What a massive build.
Dwarfing even Bang Du-chil, this giant cradled a spear at his feet far longer than standard issue. Even up close, he didn't open his eyes. Then he growled,
"You Jin Sowoon?"
His low, rumbling voice was tiger-fierce. I'd never felt intimidated by external art practitioners in this life, but his words alone tensed me up. Backing down here? That'd wound my pride as a former Small Justice Squad member. And when it came to guts and bark, who topped the squad?
"You knew I'd come, didn't you?"
My jab made him twitch; one eye cracked open, unleashing a killing intent like spilling bloodlust.
"So you predicted my arrival?"
His presence was imposing, his speech no mere braggart's boast from overconfidence in family arts.
Direct lineage?
As my mind raced, he rose slowly.
"Or... does it not matter who I am?"
No overt qi surge, yet his hostility grated. Worse, a thick blood scent no normal man should carry assaulted my nose, ringing alarms in my head.
"Such arrogance."
They said dogs pissed themselves and fled at the sight of the dogcatcher. Despite his refined attire, instinct recoiled from him. Another guttural growl echoed around us.
"That's how you could pull that stunt on Jupyeong."
Ak Jupyeong was a direct heir of the Ak family. Calling him "Jupyeong" implied equal standing.
His rocky frame swelled mountain-like. Eight feet of freakish bulk—I got why he wielded that absurdly long, heavy spear.
Thud.
"Show me what you've got!"
Whoosh—
Defying its size, the massive spear slashed ferociously. Not thrusting? Seemed dumb, but that wasn't his aim.
Thud.
I drew the Black Dragon Sword to block, but the impact launched me airborne.
Skreeee—
Regaining footing with footwork, he was already in my face.
What speed!
Whooosh.
I dodged the shaft with Iron Plate Bridge. The pole grazed overhead; no ordinary gear.
Steel shaft...
Explained the numbness despite deflection.
Slaaaash—Boom.
I evaded the head-splitting thrust; the spear cratered the marble floor, shards flying. Only then did a record click in my mind.
"Inspection Hall Third Division Lord Ak Byeongbi."
His thick eyebrows shot up.
I ground my teeth. "Known in the jianghu as the Blood Ghost Flying Spear, right?"
He paused mid-attack, resetting his stance.
"Baekdo's young ones finger-point at my moniker."
"..."
He glanced at his hands briefly, then met my eyes with detached calm.
"I don't care. To uphold Baekdo's justice, I'll gladly become a 'Blood Ghost' to Heukdo and Sado as needed."
Damn it all. Never dreamed he'd come personally.
"Here as an Inspection Hall rep again, like yesterday?"
"..."
I stared straight back, unflinching.
"Am I... a threat to Baekdo's justice?"
No hesitation in Ak Byeongbi's gaze. One of the Murim Alliance's seven stars, guardian of its sanctity.
"Plain as day. You're no pure Baekdo man."