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◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 15: Asura Sword Sect

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Yi Do's actions had thrown all of Jangnyeong County into an uproar.

First, he had turned the Yi Clan upside down by killing bandits and a General Steward of the clan. Then, he had shaken the Jang Clan by taking over Cheonhwa Pavilion.

As if it had all been arranged, this time it was the Hyeokri Clan that was thrown into chaos.

Hyeokri Wonpyeong, the Clan Head of the Hyeokri Clan, had two children.

One was Hyeokri Yang-geon, the Young Clan Head. The other was his second son, Hyeokri Cheolsan.

Neither was particularly young. The eldest had turned twenty-six this year, while Cheolsan was one year younger at twenty-five.

Their talent in martial arts, however, was vastly different.

The eldest had only reached the Circulation Realm. The second son was another matter.

He had already entered Twin Sun Manifestation, the entry point of the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms.

Hyeokri Cheolsan, the second son, led the Gale Force, the Hyeokri Clan's elite strike force.

His voice was full of rage as he asked, "So... that bastard Yi Do did this to you and slaughtered two other members of the Gale Force?"

"Cough... Yes... That bastard is... a demon wearing human skin..."

"Enough. Do not talk too much."

Cheolsan silently signaled to the other members.

He was telling them to take Chwi Sam to the medical room.

Cheolsan turned his head.

There stood Hyeokri Wonpyeong, the Clan Head, and Hyeokri Yang-geon, the Young Clan Head.

Wonpyeong, his expression grave, asked Cheolsan, "What do you intend to do?"

"I will pay him back in kind."

Wonpyeong let out a short breath at Cheolsan's answer.

"But it is the Yi Clan."

"It does not matter."

"No, it matters to our Hyeokri Clan. The Yi Clan is in turmoil right now. It would be wrong for us to act at a time like this."

"Clan Head... no, Father, a member of the Hyeokri Clan was harmed. How can you tell me, the unit leader, to stand by?"

"Watch yourself. This could easily escalate into an all-out war. The Yi Clan is already in chaos because their valuables were burned. If we touch the Yi Clan now, they may point to us as the ones behind it."

"But it was not us."

"Even if it was not, the people of Jangnyeong County may not see it that way."

Hyeokri Wonpyeong had a simple nature.

He was cautious, then cautious again.

He was the sort of man who would tap even a stone bridge two or three times before crossing it.

"Besides, I hear that Yi Do has tremendous talent in martial arts."

"..."

"They say he reached the Circulation Realm at seventeen. No matter how illegitimate he may be, someone with that much talent is bound to hold an important position in the Yi Clan. That is another reason the Yi Clan will never remain quiet if you touch him."

"But...!"

"Endure it. The time is not yet right."

Hyeokri Yang-geon felt much the same.

He patted his younger brother's shoulder. "I know how you feel, but there's nothing we can do. We have to hold back for now. Let's wait for our chance."

"...What moment are you talking about?"

"When the Yi Clan begins to falter."

"...What?"

Yang-geon glanced at the Clan Head before continuing.

"The Yi Clan has yet to settle on a Young Clan Head. What happens if the eldest becomes the Young Clan Head?"

"The second child will not sit still."

"Right. I do not know where that Yi Do fellow stands, but the second child definitely will not remain quiet. What if the opposite happens?"

"...If the second child becomes the Young Clan Head, the eldest will not stay quiet."

"Exactly. The Yi Clan is bound to be shaken at least once. We will wait for that moment."

Hyeokri Wonpyeong said nothing. Even to someone as cautious as him, if they were going to act, the best time would be when the Yi Clan's turmoil grew worse. At the very least, it was not now.

"...You must both promise me. When that time comes, you must act, no matter what."

Wonpyeong, the Clan Head, answered.

"Yes. I promise."

"I will definitely kill that bastard Yi Do."

"You can do it. Your talent surpasses his."

With that, they came to an agreement.

That was when it happened.

"Heh heh... It seems Jangnyeong County is about to become quite lively."

It was unmistakably an old man's voice.

The three men turned at once. At the same time, they gave a cupped-fist salute.

"Great Hero, you have arrived."

No one in the Hyeokri Clan ranked above the Clan Head.

There was a Supreme Clan Head, but illness had left him unable even to walk properly.

The elderly man whom they called Great Hero spoke.

"Debts and grudges are the foundation of the martial world. If one has suffered a wrong, it is only proper to repay it. From what I have seen, both your sons seem likely to become great men."

The white-bearded old man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, chuckling. He looked utterly ordinary, but there was no way he truly was.

His name was Myo Man-ri.

Known by the alias Flying Dragon Hero, he was an elder of the Asura Sword Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects.

"Great Hero, as I have said repeatedly, we wish to maintain a good relationship with the Asura Sword Sect."

"Heh heh heh. How could the Asura Sword Sect dislike men who walk the Path of Hegemony so boldly? So long as you continue down that path, the Asura Sword Sect will stand with you."

"Your words alone are appreciated."

Even as he spoke, however, Wonpyeong felt regret.

Why else would a man with the formidable alias of Flying Dragon Great Hero have come to the Hyeokri Clan in Jangnyeong County?

The reason was obvious.

He was seeking a disciple.

Myo Man-ri had heard that the Hyeokri Clan's second son possessed considerable talent, so he had come here.

After assessing Hyeokri Cheolsan's talent, though, he had found it decent but lacking for someone he would take as his disciple.

That was the reason.

Had Cheolsan become Myo Man-ri's disciple, the Hyeokri Clan could have gained the backing of the Asura Sword Sect, just as the Jang Clan had gained the backing of the Emperor Sword Sect.

It was truly regrettable.

Myo Man-ri then asked Hyeokri Wonpyeong, "By the way, I hear there is a martial artist who reached the Circulation Realm at seventeen... Is that true?"

"..."

"Why are you saying nothing? Is it because he belongs to a rival clan, and you do not wish to tell me? Hm, how can men who walk the Path of Hegemony possess such petty hearts?"

"That is not it. I was only considering where I should begin."

"Heh heh heh heh. Is that so? What a relief. So, have you finished considering it?"

"...Yes."

"Then let me hear it. Speak."

"...The martial artist you have heard of is the illegitimate son of the Yi Clan, one of the Three Great Clans of Jangnyeong."

Myo Man-ri's expression changed strangely.

"Hmm... An illegitimate son..."

"Yes. He had a reputation throughout Jangnyeong County as a fool since childhood. Whenever I saw him, he always kept his head down, and he stuttered so badly that I could not understand what he was saying. But I heard that the boy abruptly reached the Circulation Realm, beheaded bandits, and killed the Grand Steward and an ordinary General Steward serving the Yi Clan in quick succession."

"Oh? Killed them? And the Yi Clan's Clan Head simply watched?"

"I heard it was a matter of hierarchy. There is a strange rumor that he established order by killing the General Steward who dared steal his belongings and the Grand Steward who dared interrupt a conversation between father and son. I cannot say whether it is true."

Myo Man-ri's reaction, however, was unexpected.

He even clapped as though he found it interesting.

"I like that. That is the true Path of Hegemony. Where is he? I should meet him myself."

Just as they were about to tell him where the Yi Clan was located, Myo Man-ri's lips curled upward.

He turned around.

"It seems that will not be necessary."

"...Pardon?"

Their surprise was understandable.

Following Myo Man-ri's gaze, the three members of the Hyeokri Clan looked over as well.

Then they saw him.

A lone man was walking slowly toward the entrance of the Hyeokri Clan.

It was Yi Do.

Yi Do had come to the Hyeokri Clan all by himself, without the slightest fear.

Hyeokri Cheolsan immediately drew up his qi as if he would kill the bastard on the spot, but Myo Man-ri raised a hand and stopped him.

Heh heh heh.

"I truly like the way he goes about things."

Myo Man-ri's voice was full of affection.

As though he were about to take him as a disciple.

* * *

The moment I saw him, I furrowed my brow.

Why was that crazy old man here?

Flying Dragon Great Hero, Myo Man-ri.

There was no way I would not know that man.

He was one of the Asura Sword Sect's Eight Elders and also held the position of Great Elder.

The Asura Sword Sect's hierarchy was simple.

There was only the Sect Leader, then the Junior Sect Leader beneath him, followed by the Great Elder.

The position of Junior Sect Leader had been vacant for a long time.

That meant Myo Man-ri was a master among masters, second in rank within the Asura Sword Sect.

I acknowledged his strength. What was worse than that, though, was his character.

Just because his alias was Flying Dragon Great Hero did not mean he possessed the dignified and admirable character of a true hero.

He was from the Asura Sword Sect, a sect famous for the Path of Hegemony, yet people called him a Great Hero? That alone was enough to make one question his ulterior motives.

The man I knew was absolutely not someone who deserved to be called a Great Hero.

The way he looked at me with such fond eyes was deeply uncomfortable as well. So I simply ignored him.

"It has been a long time, Clan Head Hyeokri."

When I gave a respectful cupped-fist salute, Hyeokri Wonpyeong asked in a blunt voice, his expression sour.

"Yes, it has been a long time. I just received the report... Did you really have to do that?"

"Forgive me, but Golden Inn is a place that I, Yi Do, have promised to look after. Whether they are attendants or cooks, whoever they may be, promising to look after them also means protecting them."

I did not shrink back. I said what I had to say.

"If you received the report, then you know. You know I had no other choice."

That was when a man who had been trembling with clenched fists shouted as though he would leap at me at any moment.

"You bastard! Is that something a human being should say? How could you kill people so easily and shatter someone's dantian? A warning alone would have been enough..."

"That was the warning."

"...What?"

"Did I not spare one whole person? How can you be angry after I showed such mercy?"

"Y-You bastard... I will kill you right here..."

"Enough!"

Hyeokri Cheolsan flinched at Hyeokri Wonpyeong's shout.

"Stop. Did I not tell you earlier? Must I say the same thing twice for you to understand?"

"...Clan Head..."

"That is enough. Cheolsan, go tend to that fellow, Chwi Sam."

Cheolsan ground his teeth, glared at me for a moment, and turned away.

As I watched him leave, Hyeokri Wonpyeong asked me, "I trust you understand that such a reaction is only natural."

"I understand perfectly. The failings of incompetent subordinates are ultimately the failings of those above them. How infuriating must this be for you?"

It seemed every word I said was getting under their skin, because this time the Young Clan Head, Hyeokri Yang-geon, clenched his fists.

Naturally, I ignored him.

Hyeokri Wonpyeong sighed.

"...So why have you come?"

Why had I come?

The reason was perfectly clear.

"I came to collect repair fees."

The father and son of the Hyeokri Clan blinked as though they could not believe what they had heard.

"Repair... repair fees?"

"Yes. The incident earlier damaged the walls and doors of Golden Inn. Since all of it happened because of the foolish actions of the Hyeokri Clan's martial artists, it is only right that I bill this place for the repairs. Is that not so?"

"...What ridiculous nonsense..."

"Do you truly think it is nonsense?"

Hyeokri Wonpyeong's mouth snapped shut. Killing intent filled the eyes of the man famed for his caution.

"What do you mean by that?"

"...I heard you had made tremendous progress. Yet you are taking this unreasonable demand too far."

"How is this unreasonable? I do not enjoy making a big matter out of things either, so I will be direct. The total repair fee is 603 taels of silver. I can pay for the repairs myself and charge you later with interest, or you can give me 603 taels right now. Which do you prefer?"

"How can repair fees amount to hundreds of taels of silver? Twenty or thirty taels would be more than enough to settle something like this..."

I could not help but smile.

How I priced it was entirely up to me.

If I said it was one thousand taels of silver, then it was one thousand taels. If I said it was ten thousand, then it was ten thousand.

"You... Are you truly the Yi Do I know?"

"Then who do I look like?"

"You truly seem like a different person. To think that little boy who could not even meet anyone's eyes would change so much. It is as though you have become an entirely different person. Could it be..."

"If you are about to ask whether I have been possessed by a demon, I have not. I am Yi Do, and I came here to collect money. What will you do?"

Hyeokri Wonpyeong first placed a hand on the shoulder of Hyeokri Yang-geon, who looked ready to explode beside him.

He opened his mouth.

"Go spout your ridiculous demands elsewhere. We cannot give you any money..."

Before he could finish, Myo Man-ri stepped in.

"By the way, Clan Head Hyeokri."

"...Yes, Great Hero."

"It seems to me that you ought to pay him."

"...Why would you say that? You know what he is saying is absurd."

"Absurd? Is that not the very essence of the Path of Hegemony? If there is something one deserves to receive, one should take it. Is it not admirable to have the boldness to overcome every obstacle in one's way?"

"..."

"Heh heh heh, I cannot simply let this pass. If Clan Head Hyeokri dislikes it, then there is nothing to be done."

Myo Man-ri approached me and pulled a pouch from his robes.

"Here, this pouch contains gold taels worth roughly one thousand taels of silver. I will cover the repair fees for you, so how about letting go of your anger?"

Flying Dragon Great Hero, Myo Man-ri.

I knew.

I knew what that man would do in the future.

Under the pretense of searching for a disciple, he would storm the imperial palace, wipe out every Eastern Depot agent there, and then abduct the imperial princess.

Had that been all, I might have let it slide.

He would rape the imperial princess, then teach his martial arts to the child she bore him.

I had not mentioned it before, but until the day I died in this era, there were only three people who were both Martial World's Public Enemies and called great demonic fiends.

One of them was Myo Man-ri, standing before me.

And.

He had raped men as well.

Myo Man-ri grinned.

"You, I truly like you."

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