The Genius Warrior Who Remembers Everything Chapter 69

Chapter 69. The ‘First’ Trial of the Hell Regular Exam (3)

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Yeo Mi-mi’s face turned cold for the first time.

“I said I wanted the qualification of a ‘Guest Retainer.’ Not merely a relationship where we exchange information.”

“Are you saying you don’t believe me?”

“The person calling herself the Gate Master has not mentioned the word ‘Guest Retainer’ even once.”

“……I believe I conveyed enough.”

I rose from my seat.

“I understand what you mean. It is regrettable, but it cannot be helped.”

“I am not finished speaking yet!”

The warriors spread out in a row, looking as if they would draw their swords at any moment.

At that moment.

The old woman I had been looking at slowly raised her head.

“That is enough. Stop.”

“…….”

Yeo Mi-mi pressed her lips shut and stepped aside.

“You did enough. This child was simply no ordinary fellow.”

Her face, over which a few strands of white hair had fallen, was filled with gentle wrinkles.

The way she looked me up and down with a slightly stooped posture even resembled a warmhearted grandmother inspecting a potential grandson-in-law her granddaughter had brought home.

However, this old woman, who did not possess even a shred of inner arts, was none other than Hao Gate’s current Gate Master, Yeo Mi-mi.

“I am sorry, Gate Master.”

The woman who had been playing the role of Yeo Mi-mi blushed and lowered her head.

“Still, I am curious. How did you know?”

I had never seen her in my previous life.

However, I knew information about her.

“When I entered the room, each of the elderly attendants looked at me once. But you, Gate Master, did not look at me.”

“!”

The servants who had not moved at all all flinched.

I shook the materials I had received.

“And if I had truly become a Guest Retainer, I would not have received this useless information.”

“Useless? How can you say something so rude?”

The woman who had been playing Yeo Mi-mi bit her lip.

I looked back and forth between her and Yeo Mi-mi, asking how I should address her, and Yeo Mi-mi quickly understood and told me her name.

“She is my first disciple, Hae-ryeong.”

“Yes. The information Senior Hae-ryeong gave me merely lists the major figures. If it were information that would truly help me, would it not have contained details not about the people, but about the mountain strongholds I should target and who is aiming for those strongholds?”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face flushed red.

Most likely, this information had been prepared directly by Hae-ryeong herself.

The reason Yeo Mi-mi had become the Gate Master of Hao Gate despite not having learned even a single strand of martial arts was not merely because her popularity was excellent.

It was possible because she possessed speed and accuracy incomparable to other information organizations, as well as the ability to make outstanding predictions through her own analysis.

“And if this were Hao Gate’s true strength, I would not even have undergone a verification for the qualification of ‘Guest Retainer.’”

“…….”

“…….”

At my single remark, hostility flowed from everyone in the room.

To the disciples of Hao Gate, Hao Gate was not simply the organization to which they belonged.

It was their friend, their family, and people no different from their own blood kin.

This close bond was the foundation that allowed them to possess information-gathering power equal to the Beggars’ Sect, the only one of its kind under heaven.

“If you know us that well, then you must also know why we conduct such strict verification for the qualification of ‘Guest Retainer.’”

Throughout history, the Guest Retainers of Hao Gate had only ever been absolute masters of the Jianghu.

And throughout Hao Gate’s long history, their number had not exceeded the fingers of two hands.

That was because most of them had not created their own forces, instead living leisurely in deep mountains and secluded valleys as their home.

This was related to Hao Gate’s identity.

There must never be a conflict between Hao Gate’s interests and the interests of a Guest Retainer.

After all, Hao Gate’s foremost objective had always been to protect the disciples of Hao Gate.

“You are affiliated with Taeul Sect, and that Taeul Sect is now waiting for its chance to soar. Would that alone not be reason enough that you cannot become our Guest Retainer?”

“If one lives with one’s feet planted in the Jianghu, one cannot sever ties with the Jianghu. If that is the case, then you should never have sold information about the Jianghu in the first place.”

“…….”

“As I said earlier, the incident at the Demon Spirit Plateau was a tragedy brought about by Hao Gate’s closed nature. If someone had to bear responsibility for that matter, between the Beggars’ Sect and Hao Gate, which side do you think would suffer the greater loss?”

In my previous life, Hao Gate had suffered damage close to annihilation.

If not for Yang Gun-baek’s ability, Hao Gate would not have been able to rise again.

“I like Hao Gate’s spirit. An organization that protects the powerless. If I were an inn waiter, there would be nothing more reassuring. But Hao Gate has already grown to the scale of the entire Jianghu, and if you continue with the old methods, someday a second Demon Spirit Plateau incident and a third Demon Spirit Plateau incident will occur again. It is time for you to come out of the well.”

Yeo Mi-mi stared steadily at me with her wrinkled face.

“Are you saying you have that solution?”

The Beggars’ Sect ultimately failed to predict the return of the Demonic Cult.

An information organization without competitors eventually fell into self-contradiction, and rather than analyzing objective facts, it came to focus on processing information according to subjective interests.

Perhaps if Hao Gate had existed until the end, the information about the return of the Demonic Cult might have unfolded in a different direction.

“As you just said, Taeul Sect will soar in the future. When that time comes, join us.”

“……You use all kinds of sweet words for your own benefit. For a moment, I almost agreed.”

Yeo Mi-mi’s suspicion did not offend me.

That personality of hers, almost like a fastidious obsession with purity, was what had created the current Hao Gate.

“As expected, you will not be won over.”

At my shamelessness, Yeo Mi-mi smiled.

“Heh heh…… You are a brazen fellow. Even so, since I was swayed by your eloquence, I cannot refuse to give you a chance.”

“Gate Master!”

For the first time, Hae-ryeong’s face turned deathly pale.

“Was the problem that child pointed out not something we had also considered? Do you wish to ignore someone who can present a solution because of your pride?”

“…….”

“If you know the first and second qualifications, then you must also know what the third qualification is.”

“To be someone who helps Hao Gate.”

“Heh heh…… Do you know this? This is a standard that has never once been publicly announced. Those who became Guest Retainers did not even know when their verification had ended.”

“Is that so?”

I had obtained that information from among the confidential documents of Sim Hyeon-gak, so I thought that made sense.

“However, for you as you are now, unless you become a Guest Retainer immediately, joining hands with us would be meaningless, would it not?”

Yeo Mi-mi seemed to have already predicted how I intended to use Hao Gate’s information.

“I will give you a chance. Of course, it will not be easy for you either.”

“What is it?”

“I heard you are acquainted with the Master of Wang Estate.”

“…Something like that.”

“One of the most precious things possessed by Wang Geum-san of Wang Estate is something we need. Can you give it to us?”

Hae-ryeong suddenly stepped in front of Yeo Mi-mi.

“Gate Master…… It is all right.”

“Stay still.”

Hae-ryeong lowered her head and stepped back.

I could not understand what the two of them were talking about.

“Can you give it to us?”

“I need to know what it is before I can ask the Estate Master to give it to me, do I not?”

After looking at Hae-ryeong once, Yeo Mi-mi said to me,

“I will speak of that personally.”

At Yeo Mi-mi’s words, I tilted my head.

Hao Gate Master Yeo Mi-mi had never once revealed herself to the world.

How important could this matter be, for the Hao Gate Master to show her face personally?

The point Jin So-un had identified was a concern Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong had always had in the past.

Hae-ryeong, in particular, had thought more progressively than even she, the Gate Master, had about opening Hao Gate.

However, after Tae-gong, Hae-ryeong’s husband and Yeo Mi-mi’s second disciple, died because his identity was exposed, Hae-ryeong had become even more conservative than Yeo Mi-mi herself.

But as Jin So-un said, they had now reached their limit.

Problems were arising across the branches, and the people working inside were screaming.

Even knowing that reality, Hae-ryeong, perhaps because of her memories of Tae-gong, had refused to change her thoughts to the very end.

Because of that, Yeo Mi-mi was, in one sense, placing expectations on Jin So-un.

She hoped he could change Hae-ryeong’s thoughts.

She hoped her poor daughter could cast off the shadow that had fallen over her.

Amid such thoughts, Yeo Mi-mi intended to schedule another time while looking forward to meeting Estate Master Wang, but Jin So-un said they should go meet Estate Master Wang immediately.

“I don’t have time.”

Jin So-un said that, but she did not think it would be possible.

To begin with, Wang Geum-san was not someone one could meet as easily as an old man from the neighborhood apothecary.

And yet…….

“Hahaha. I thought you would just leave because you were busy, but in the end, you came to see me.”

At Wang Geum-san’s words, Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong, who was playing the role of Yeo Mi-mi, could not help but be startled.

High officials, nobles, and famous figures of the Murim had to make appointments several weeks in advance to meet him, and in severe cases, they made appointments months in advance.

Even then, if Wang Geum-san became busy on the day itself, there were countless cases where they could not meet him.

Yet now, did Wang Geum-san not look instead like a person who had been waiting for weeks to meet Jin So-un?

“I worry that I may have stolen the Estate Master’s time by coming so suddenly.”

Wang Geum-san, who had a mountain of work piled up, pushed his work to one side and examined Jin So-un’s face from here and there.

“What does a matter like that matter if it is delayed by a day or two? So, you are ultimately taking the Murim Academy exam?”

“Yes. That is what happened. In relation to that, I came with these people because I wished to receive the Estate Master’s help. They came from Hao Gate.”

Jin So-un naturally introduced Hao Gate.

Hae-ryeong stepped forward.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Hao Gate Master Yeo Mi-mi.”

Since this was a meeting with Wang Geum-san, Yeo Mi-mi had intended to appear in her true form, but Hae-ryeong had still refused to back down.

Yeo Mi-mi, who could not be harsh toward the pitiful child, had ultimately let Hae-ryeong do as she wished.

At Hae-ryeong’s clasped hands greeting, Wang Geum-san merely nodded his head.

“It is a pleasure. You may call me Wang.”

It was an exceedingly rude act toward the Gate Master of an organization.

It was certainly different from the image of Wang Geum-san that Yeo Mi-mi knew.

“Is Hao Gate needed for this exam?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…… I see. May I ask what kind of information you need?”

Strangely, Wang Geum-san was showing a side different from Hao Gate’s information about him.

He treated the Hao Gate Master rudely, while toward Jin So-un, he was using not the language of a merchant but the language of a parent.

“I need all information on the exam as it changes moment by moment.”

“Well, if it is information like that, there is no choice but to borrow the strength of the Beggars’ Sect and Hao Gate.”

As Wang Geum-san nodded, Hae-ryeong stepped forward.

“Our Hao Gate can…….”

And yet, did Wang Geum-san not cut off Hae-ryeong’s words again?

“Or how about Wang Estate helping you?”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face twisted greatly.

This was a crisis where the agreement might end before they could even speak of what they wanted.

“How do you mean?”

“I will mobilize the people connected to Wang Estate throughout the country and give you the information you need. In any case, the information will be needed centered around you. It is not as if you need the scale of the entire Jianghu, is it?”

“Hm…….”

As he said, it was not exactly wrong.

If it was the Master of Wang Estate, who employed people throughout the Jianghu, then although he might not be equal to Hao Gate, he could probably establish an information network that was not far behind.

Analytical ability and speed were separate matters, however.

While Yeo Mi-mi watched that scene with her insides burning,

fortunately, Jin So-un shook his head.

“I cannot do that. The Estate Master must not suffer losses just to help me.”

“Kahaha! My friend! Why would you worry about such a thing? If you wish it, I can even hand over all of Wang Estate to you.”

As Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san conversed warmly, Hae-ryeong’s face flushed bright red.

Although she had come from Hao Gate, when she spoke the name of Gate Master, no one in the Jianghu ignored her.

This was the first time such a woman was experiencing humiliation.

“You truly are rude.”

“Hm?”

“Does Hao Gate look so laughable to you?”

Wang Geum-san’s expression changed.

It became solemn and stiff.

Like Yeo Mi-mi, he did not possess even a shred of inner arts, but he looked full of dignity, as though he would look down upon all under heaven.

His mouth opened coldly.

“I am the one who wishes to ask. How laughable do you find me, that you would impersonate the Hao Gate Master?”

“?!”

At Wang Geum-san’s words, the corners of Yeo Mi-mi’s eyes trembled.

As expected, this kind of playacting was not something one should do carelessly.

There had been a reason why he had treated only Hao Gate coldly from the beginning.

“Although the Hao Gate Master’s identity is veiled in mist, I have heard that she has thirteen disciples. The first disciple was accepted fifteen years ago. If you were the Hao Gate Master, then Hao Gate would not be an information organization, but an organization like children playing house.”

“…….”

Hae-ryeong’s face turned ashen.

They were already making a difficult request, and now she had received sharp criticism as well, putting her in an even more difficult position.

“You should stop as well. When it comes to information, trust is the most important thing. Can you plan a great undertaking with such unreliable people?”

In the end, Yeo Mi-mi herself had no choice but to step forward.

Yeo Mi-mi moved Hae-ryeong, whose shoulders had drooped, behind her and respectfully performed a clasped hands greeting.

“I apologize. My disciple did this because she was worried about her powerless master, so please forgive her.”

The psychological shock Hae-ryeong had suffered from losing Tae-gong was too great.

In addition, even the one son left between the two of them had contracted a fatal illness, so Hae-ryeong was in a state where she could go mad at any time.

Yeo Mi-mi had hoped there would be no further tragedy for such a Hae-ryeong, and had gone along with what Hae-ryeong wished to do, but now, instead, that had worked as a bad move.

“…….”

Wang Geum-san silently looked at her for quite some time.

Then he suddenly spoke in a calm voice.

“That is enough. Please rise. It is not a pleasant sight to see the Gate Master of an organization lowering her head like that.”

As expected, Wang Geum-san had recognized at once that she was the Gate Master.

What exactly had he used to distinguish her?

Unlike with Jin So-un, there were not even any servants here.

They said Wang Geum-san was the most difficult and wise among the Four Great Merchants under Heaven, and those words were indeed not merely a rumor.

“I am already disappointed in you, but for the sake of my So-un’s face, I will let it pass once.”

Yeo Mi-mi stared blankly at Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san.

What exactly did Jin So-un possess, that Wang Geum-san trusted him so much?

Was such trust possible simply because he had saved his daughter?

“What do you need from me?”

Without even having time to think about other matters, Yeo Mi-mi pulled herself together.

The reason she had come this far was to find a clue that could prevent Hae-ryeong’s tragedy.

After looking at Hae-ryeong once, Yeo Mi-mi spoke.

“I heard your daughter suffered from the Solar Body.”

“Oh. As expected of Hao Gate.”

Because Wang Estate had kept matters concerning Wang So-so so secret, even within Wang Estate, few people knew of Wang So-so’s constitution.

It was information Hao Gate had only recently learned after tracing back the origins of the natural objects Wang Estate had put up for sale.

“We need that treatment method.”

At Yeo Mi-mi’s words, Jin So-un and Wang Geum-san met each other’s eyes at the same time.

Wang Geum-san’s lips twitched visibly as he held back the laughter about to burst out.

‘What is this?’

Yeo Mi-mi felt something strange, but she continued speaking.

“We mobilized all of Hao Gate, but there was no way to discover it. If you would please tell us the person who treated that constitution and the treatment method, we would be grateful.”

Hae-ryeong’s son was also suffering from an illness similar to Wang So-so’s.

The Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which no one under heaven could treat.

If Hae-ryeong lost even that child, Yeo Mi-mi could not predict what would truly happen to her.

That was why she was placing her final hope on the treatment method that had cured Wang So-so.

If it was possible to cast off the constitution of the Solar Body and turn her healthy enough to learn martial arts at Taeul Sect, then the Nine Yin Severed Meridians should also be possible.

“……Heh heh.”

“We beg you to tell us.”

“We beg you.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong lowered their heads.

Wang Geum-san looked at that scene and shook his head, then looked at Jin So-un.

Jin So-un gave a slight nod without saying anything, and Wang Geum-san also nodded faintly.

“……I will tell you that person.”

“……Can you truly tell us?”

“Yes.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong looked as if they could not believe it.

If it was such a precious treatment method, it could be exchanged for even a fortune of hundreds of millions.

Could he truly give it to them just because of Jin So-un’s request?

“It is not exactly in exchange, but…… I will give you one piece of advice.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong had thought he would ask for some tremendous compensation, but when Wang Geum-san said he would give advice, they nodded gladly.

“When operating an organization, suspicion and verification are indeed very important. However, if you truly wish to create an organization capable of great undertakings, trust is more important than anything else.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong looked as if they did not understand what Wang Geum-san was talking about.

“If you tell us what you mean, we will listen even more carefully.”

“I am saying that if you had shown trust to So-un in the first place, there would have been no need to come all the way here.”

“……?”

“The one who possessed that treatment method was So-un.”

Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong’s heads whipped around.

By their common sense, they had never imagined that Jin So-un might possess that treatment method.

“Trust is extremely difficult to build. If the first beginning goes wrong, it becomes even more difficult. That is why showing trust at the beginning is more important than anything else. If the other party betrays me, then I simply repay it even more greatly, do I not? I know Hao Gate is already a sect of that scale. So show trust first. If you cannot overcome this, you will see how quickly that organization collapses.”

One of the Four Great Merchants under Heaven had personally told them his management principles.

Yeo Mi-mi lowered her head in deep gratitude.

“I will engrave the words I heard today deep in my heart.”

“That is enough. In the first place, I only said it because So-un said he needed your strength. Now, let us stop this and speak comfortably.”

Wang Geum-san relaxed his stiff expression and told a maidservant to prepare dinner.

“My friend, you don’t intend to make me go through a situation like this and then simply leave, do you?”

Wang Geum-san, having loosened the solemn expression from earlier, spoke to Jin So-un with a mischievous look.

“What are you saying? I came to eat dinner with the Estate Master, and since I was here, I introduced these people to you.”

They said Wang Geum-san had marked Jin So-un as his son-in-law, and it seemed that was true.

“Kahaha. If you wish to become a merchant later, you will need to learn how to lie.”

“What are you talking about? Have you not heard that I found the True Inheritance of the Taeul Sword Emperor? In a little while, I will become an expert of the Murim.”

“Instead, I also heard that you nearly lost your inner arts while using Innate Energy.”

“Urgh…….”

“Let us go for now! I must first hear the story of how you distinguished yourself in the Demon Spirit Plateau. I hear the end of that story was that you obtained the Azure Sky Merchant Guild?”

Wang Geum-san, as delighted as if his dead son had returned alive, led Jin So-un out, then looked back.

While Yeo Mi-mi and Hae-ryeong were wavering over what they should do, Wang Geum-san spoke.

“Are you not coming with us? The skill of our Wang Estate’s special-grade chef is quite outstanding.”