WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

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◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 14: Hyeokri Clan

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Lady Yun knew.

At the very least, she knew that her son, Yi Won, was better suited to be Clan Head than Yi Jeong, the eldest.

This was not simply a mother favoring her own child.

Viewed as objectively as possible, the eldest was someone who would ruin the clan.

Financial sense? He had practically none.

He had grown up wanting for nothing from the moment he was born. Whenever he wanted something, he could obtain most things without any effort.

There was no way someone like that could have grown up properly.

If he wanted a woman in his arms, he simply took one.

The story of him impregnating five courtesans was so famous it hardly needed repeating, but the real number was not five.

It was more than ten.

What became of those courtesans? Aside from five, all of them died.

Lady Sang had them killed behind the scenes. The remaining five were little more than Yi Jeong's toys.

Whenever he was bored, he went to see them.

That was the kind of man he was.

And that man was supposed to become Clan Head? Simply because he was the eldest son?

That could not be allowed.

"I've decided to join hands with Yi Do."

Lady Yun could not help looking proudly at her son as he spoke.

Compared to the useless eldest, who made no effort whatsoever, it was far more pleasing to see the second son striving to do something.

And besides.

Yi Won's judgment almost perfectly aligned with Lady Yun's own.

"Yi Do is a martial artist with a promising future. He also has no ambition for the position of Clan Head. The Yi Clan has money, but we do not have any proper martial artists."

He was right.

"That is why we could not recover our money even with the Jang Clan backing Cheonhwa Pavilion. What we need is not a foundation or capital. We need martial artists."

"Do you truly believe Yi Do has no ambition for the position of Clan Head?"

Yi Won nodded, his expression firm.

"Yes."

"What is the basis for that judgment?"

"First, Yi Do's highest priority right now is not status. It is spiritual medicine. In other words, raising his martial realm is his greatest priority. Second, this is directly connected to the first reason. If he became Clan Head, he would not have enough time to train. He has not been properly studying martial arts for long. It is remarkable that he reached the Circulation Realm in only two years, but he must surely lack fundamentals and other things. If he became Clan Head, he would no longer have time to train in those areas."

"Is that all?"

"No. There is one more reason."

"Go on."

"Yi Do is decisive. And once he says something, he always keeps his word. You know what position the attendant from Cheonhwa Pavilion received simply for standing with Yi Do."

"Of course I do. He went from a mere attendant to Cheonhwa Pavilion's Deputy Owner, even if it only lasted one day."

"That is what matters. I also heard that, right before setting Cheonhwa Pavilion ablaze, he broke into Jeok Gae-san's storeroom and distributed all the valuables inside to them. He is a man who keeps his promises. And though we only share half our blood, we are still family. If Yi Do and I join forces, we can certainly drive out the Sang-un Trading Company and Yi Jeong."

"...How remarkable."

Perhaps it was because she kept comparing him to Yi Jeong, the eldest, but she was deeply proud.

He had grown into such a fine young man.

And he was capable of such bold thoughts.

Yi Won must have investigated the matters concerning Cheonhwa Pavilion himself.

It was so admirable.

"Very well. Is there anything this mother can do to help?"

"Yes. There are a few things."

Yi Do had made a few "requests."

They had really been orders, but Yi Won had decided to think of them as requests.

"First, please closely monitor the movements of the Jang Clan and the Hyeokri Clan, two of the Three Great Clans of Jangnyeong."

"...Those two forces?"

"Yes. The Yi Clan is in turmoil right now. In a situation like this, anything could happen."

Lady Yun was impressed.

He had gone beyond being impressive. He had become a proper young man.

How could he have thought of such things?

Whenever one prepared for something, it was only natural to prepare for threats from behind as well. If they swiftly identified those most likely to stab them in the back and could read their movements, they could succeed in anything.

Of course, everything Yi Won had just said was something Yi Do had told him directly.

It would not be an exaggeration to say Yi Do had written him a script. Yi Won was simply reciting it, but Lady Yun had no way of knowing that.

"Good. I will mobilize every bit of my Yun Clan's strength to learn their movements."

"Ah, and there is one more thing."

"What now?"

"I want to sort out a list of those who support Yi Do and me, and those who support Yi Jeong."

"Hmm..."

"Father has still not decided on the Young Clan Head. If he confirms Yi Jeong as the Young Clan Head..."

"...Are you saying you intend to rebel?"

That had also been part of his conversation with Yi Do.

Yi Do had said that if there was something one wanted, one had to seize it by any means necessary.

That, if necessary, one even had to start a rebellion.

"I am only preparing for the possibility. It is possible that he may choose me as the Young Clan Head instead."

Lady Yun was skeptical.

It had already been over fifteen years since she had told her husband, the Clan Head, that the position of Young Clan Head could not be left vacant. Though she repeated the same words almost like an annual ritual, his response was always the same.

'I am still considering it.'

Whenever Lady Yun heard that answer, the urge to poison her husband's food slowly rose within her, but she endured it.

Yi Jeong was twenty-four this year, while Yi Won was twenty-two.

Her patience had reached its limit.

Lady Yun eventually steeled herself as well.

"...I will make preparations."

"Thank you, Mother."

* * *

I stopped walking and looked up.

[Golden Inn].

That was what was written on the signboard.

I pushed aside the ornate entrance gate and stepped inside.

"We haven't opened for business yet..."

A familiar-looking man sweeping the floor with a broom spoke out of reflex, then froze.

A smile bloomed across his face.

"Proprietor!"

It was Jo Hyeon.

He approached me, tossed aside the broom in his hand, and hurriedly said,

"Please save me."

I could not help but snicker. A quick look showed that his entire body was covered in bruises.

It was not as though someone had simply beaten him up. You could tell these things at a glance.

Every bruise was located where his qi channels ran.

Someone had clearly struck his qi channels. And it was obvious who that someone was.

"I... I really have no intention of becoming a martial artist. Much less..."

Jo Hyeon glanced around before lowering his voice.

"An assassin... Proprietor, I can't even kill an ant, let alone a person."

I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Jo Hyeon."

"...Yes, Proprietor."

"What do you think this martial world is?"

"...Just a place where people live?"

The answer was so absurd that I laughed sincerely for the first time in a while.

"Yes, it is a place where people live. But it is also a world where, without strength, you will be devoured wherever you go."

"..."

"Whether you intend to kill someone or not, if you live as an ordinary attendant, you will always be swept along without ever being able to fight back. But if you have strength, even if it is only enough to protect yourself, you will have more choices."

My serious words made Jo Hyeon's gloomy expression turn serious as well.

"Use this opportunity for yourself, not for someone else. The chance to catch the eye of such a master and become his disciple is rare. Trust me. Everything you gain from him will help you greatly someday."

"...Proprietor..."

I tossed out my next words at Jo Hyeon, who looked somewhat moved.

"And address me properly from now on. I am not the proprietor."

"Then what should I call you?"

I did not need to think about it.

"Call me Lord."

I left Jo Hyeon standing there with a bright expression and continued forward.

Near the kitchen entrance, a man leaned against the wall and watched me.

The Thousand-Faced Assassin, Hwang No-baek.

He asked,

"Did you come empty-handed?"

I nodded.

"Hah... It's our first day open, but thanks to you, I've gone from a cook to an innkeeper, so I'll consider it a gift."

"Do as you like."

A puzzled look crossed Hwang No-baek's face.

"Why have you come? The Yi Clan is in quite an uproar, and I heard some valuables were burned to ashes... Young Master."

"Say it."

"Was it you, Young Master?"

"What do you mean?"

"The two Sang-un Trading Company warehouses that burned down. There is no one but you who would do such a thing... Yet I keep wondering."

"Wondering what?"

"Who are you? You do not seem to be a master who underwent Rejuvenation, but with Void Crossing and Air-Treading Steps... How did you get out?"

Hwang No-baek might have been a cook and proprietor, but he was an assassin first and foremost.

It seemed that, as an assassin, he truly wanted to know.

"It is a secret."

"...You are a difficult man."

"I was never an easy man. More importantly, this inn is rather large. Did you not say you brought a few courtesans from Cheonhwa Pavilion?"

"I did."

"Where are they?"

My gaze darkened slightly.

Hwang No-baek seemed to find the situation truly unusual.

"Surely you do not think I stole the courtesans' money and buried them all somewhere... Is that what you are thinking?"

"I asked a question. Do not jump to conclusions."

"I do not think that is jumping to conclusions, but I have no idea what sort of person you think I am. It is nothing like that. If you are so curious, go to the food storeroom over there. They will be peeling onions."

Without another word, I headed toward the kitchen.

Hwang No-baek let out a sigh and followed behind me. He walked over as though familiar with the place and opened the storeroom door in the corner.

Seven women were crouched down, peeling onions.

"See? Must you suspect people like that?"

After closing the storeroom door, I said,

"This is the martial world. All manner of things happen here. I merely checked out of concern."

Hwang No-baek stared at me for a while, then asked,

"You seem to cherish your people."

I did not bother answering.

"You need not worry. Whether I lived as an assassin or not, I have never strayed from basic human decency."

"Good. Then that is enough. By the way, do you not intend to run a pleasure house?"

"If I intended to run a pleasure house, I would have brought every courtesan from Cheonhwa Pavilion. The courtesans I brought are people sick of living as courtesans. I will train them all as cooks."

"And you?"

"I will live comfortably while cooking as well."

"That is fortunate. More importantly, you asked why I came."

"I did."

"I came to see whether Jo Hyeon was doing well. It appears he is."

"So you are leaving now?"

"I am."

Hwang No-baek let out a hollow laugh.

"Since you are already here, at least have a meal before you go. Do you like Dongpo pork?"

"I do not dislike it."

"Then please wait just a moment."

Hwang No-baek stopped in place as he spoke.

I paused as well.

We stepped out of the kitchen at the same time.

Then we saw them. Three men.

And at their feet was Jo Hyeon, crouched down and clutching his head.

My expression did not change, but Hwang No-baek's brow immediately furrowed.

What was going on?

Why was Jo Hyeon like that?

It was obvious.

"Hoho, Innkeeper, there you are. More importantly, have you still not made your decision?"

The Thousand-Faced Assassin, Hwang No-baek, who had been frowning until a moment ago, was gone.

There was only the cook Hwang Jang-su, wearing a servile expression.

"Oh, honored warriors, did I not say I would think it over a little longer before giving you an answer?"

The martial artist standing farthest to the left made a threat.

"Now, now. The Hyeokri Clan is offering you its protection. What is there to think about? The normal monthly protection payment is seventy Silver Taels, but the Young Clan Head of the Hyeokri Clan likes this inn's name, so he will only charge thirty taels a month. Accept immediately."

Running a martial clan required a considerable amount of money.

There was a reason the Yi Clan operated a trading company.

It was only natural. Clans that dominated a region came into town, offered protection to places such as inns, and collected money every month.

"I hear this inn was once called the Sewol Inn, and the Hyeokri Clan protected that inn as well. Changing the name does not change the building's location, so accept at once and bring this month's protection payment."

No one could build an entire building in one day.

The existing inn had clearly been taken over and reopened under a new name.

I watched silently before speaking as though tossing out a casual remark.

"The Hyeokri Clan?"

The three men turned toward me. All three frowned at the same time.

"...Who might you be, Young Master? I do not believe we have met before."

"Yi Do."

"Yi Do...? Yi Do, you say...?"

The man muttered to himself, then his eyes widened.

"The third young master of the Yi Clan... the one who burned Cheonhwa Pavilion?"

"You know me well. From today on, Golden Guesthouse will be under my protection."

"...This is the first we have heard of it. Are you certain?"

A gentle smile formed on my lips.

"And what will you do if I am not?"

The three men looked at one another as though something was wrong, then turned away.

They clearly intended to report to the Hyeokri Clan first and wait for further orders. Their faces showed resentment, which I found somewhat strange.

"Who said you could leave?"

All three turned their heads at once.

In front of them.

I stood.

"Uh... When did you get here...?"

I reached out, grabbed the man on the left by the neck, and slammed him into the wall.

"Urk... Why... why are you doing this...?"

"Did I not tell you? Golden Guesthouse is under my protection."

I turned my head and looked at Jo Hyeon, who was still clutching his head.

"Let me explain this kindly. To lay a hand on an attendant under my protection is the same as laying a hand on me."

I slowly tightened my grip.

Crack-!

His neck broke. I threw him to the floor, then stomped down hard on his heart.

Crunch!

The sound of his heart bursting rang out loudly.

I turned my head. A martial artist, startled by the sudden turn of events, stumbled backward.

"He is only an attendant! Please calm down!"

"He is not merely an attendant."

"...Pardon?"

"He is my man. That is what it means to be under my protection."

"...That... that is..."

Whether he could follow my movements or not did not matter.

I threw a punch.

The man in the middle tried to dodge, but it was pointless.

My fist struck his face.

BOOOOM-!!

He smashed through the ornate entrance gate and flew outside.

He did not get back up.

That was only right.

If someone could stand with their head blown apart, they would not be human. They would be a living corpse.

I turned my head.

The remaining man collapsed to the floor.

I looked down at him and asked,

"Name."

"...Chwi... Chwi Sam."

"Affiliation?"

"...An ordinary member of the Hyeokri Clan's Gale Force."

Chwi Sam, the Hyeokri Clan martial artist, swallowed hard.

"My name is Yi Do. Go to the Hyeokri Clan immediately and report every single thing that happened here. Understood?"

"...Yes... I will certainly do so."

I shook my head slightly.

A warning was not something one delivered with words alone.

I kicked out.

My foot was aimed at Chwi Sam's dantian.

Crunch-!

"Guh... Guhk..."

I grabbed him by the hair and threw him outside.

"Go."

Chwi Sam staggered to his feet with difficulty, then ran away without looking back.

I turned around.

Hwang No-baek stood there, holding his head.

"...This is driving me mad. Young Master, I fully understand you have great plans, but why here... Haa..."

I ignored him.

Instead, I walked over to Jo Hyeon.

I had not noticed properly while I was in the kitchen, but it seemed he had taken a serious blow to the head.

Blood streamed down his face.

There was blood at the corner of his mouth as well. One hit to the head, one to the cheek.

Honestly, he already looked so pitiful that his injuries somehow looked worse.

"Are you all right?"

Jo Hyeon nodded, looking close to tears.

"Then that is enough."

Footnotes:

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