Memoir of a Regressor - Chapter 28

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 28: Golden Heaven Divine Sword, Ma Heuk-rang

──────

Hey guys, quick announcement before the chapter! We're hosting an original webnovel contest with a $1000 prize pool, a chance to publish your novel on WeTried, and lifetime free reading access for the top two winners!

There's also a participation prize of 500 coins for everyone participating.

If you've got a story sitting in a folder somewhere, or have been wanting to try writing one, we'd love to read it. You only need your first 10 chapters, and you have until 1st January 2027 to submit. New writers are welcome too!

Full details, rules, and how to enter here! https://wetriedtls.com/announcements/webnovel-contest

Feel free to send this to anyone you know who writes. Enjoy the chapter!

If you have any questions, please join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried

──────

The formation I intended to create was something I could never make at my current level.

Even with Properly Aligned Qi, which far surpassed ordinary energy, and the power of spiritual medicines, I could only barely create a formation that would hold its shape. Even then, it would possess less than half of its true power.

I needed more spiritual medicines.

The energy already poured into the formation amounted to more than four hundred years, yet it was still insufficient.

After leaving the hidden cave, I opened the box of spiritual medicines by the entrance.

Three thirty-year Tae-eul Pills, one fifty-year ginseng, one twenty-year Myeongwon Pill, one Hundred-Year Ginseng, two fifty-year Taemyeong Pills, and seven fifteen-year Botae Pills.

A total of four hundred and sixty-five years' worth of energy.

I set aside the Hundred-Year Ginseng, the two fifty-year Taemyeong Pills, and the three Tae-eul Pills.

I had to face the Golden Heaven Divine Sword. I couldn't rely on the formation alone.

There was no way this formation alone could kill him.

A formation was only a formation.

Its duration was also a problem.

At most, it would last as long as it took to drink a cup of tea.

I had to settle things within that time. To do that, I needed to draw out something close to the strength I had possessed in my previous life, if only for a moment.

‘...Do I need to prepare to perish with him?’

A disaster caused by a person should be resolved by a person.

I wouldn't be able to turn all two hundred and ninety years' worth of energy into Properly Aligned Qi at once.

But I could reach the Five Dragons Honoring the Sage.

I headed straight to the Clan Head's Hall.

Yi Won was seated in his office reviewing documents. When he noticed me, he gave an awkward smile.

That was right.

An awkward smile.

“So, is everything ready?”

“Brother.”

“Hm?”

“I need more spiritual medicines.”

“...Yi Do. The clan's situation isn't good right now. We're trying to obtain every spiritual medicine we can, but I don't think we can manage any more than this.”

My brow furrowed.

“I heard the Yun Clan has quite a bit of money.”

“...They do. They have funds, and, um...”

If I couldn't tell something was wrong, I might as well go out and die.

“What are you doing right now?”

“Hm?”

“Are you harboring other thoughts behind my back?”

Yi Won abruptly rose from his seat.

“What are you talking about? Why would I harbor other thoughts?”

“If that isn’t the case, that’s good, but I’m starting to get angry. Choose your side clearly. Do you understand?”

“...Um...”

“Even if you have to strip the Yun Clan bare, bring me more spiritual medicines. I'll give you four hours.”

“...All right.”

I turned to leave.

Then Yi Won asked, “By the way, how long do you intend to use the Clan Head's bedchamber?”

I looked back.

“Even if only in name, I'm the Clan Head now. Shouldn't I move into the bedchamber?”

“I'm sorry, but I'll be using that bedchamber from now on.”

“...”

“Use every other space. Just give me that bedchamber. Is that difficult?”

“...It isn't difficult. It's just... No. All right. I'll obtain the spiritual medicines and bring them to you as quickly as possible.”

I nodded.

As I turned away, I caught sight of Yi Won's face in the mirror ahead of me.

He wore the expression of someone who had made a decision.

What had he decided?

For now, I headed back to the hidden cave.

Nothing else mattered more than this.

After completing the formation, I sat cross-legged.

I chewed the Hundred-Year Ginseng and closed my eyes.

Today, I would rise to the Five Dragons Honoring the Sage.

* * *

Much had already been set in motion beneath the surface.

Several secret meetings had been held, centered on Un Mu-jeong and Lady Yun.

The attendees were Hyeokri Wonpyeong, the Clan Head of the Hyeokri Clan, and Hyeokri Yang-geon, its Young Clan Head. Neither had missed a single meeting.

Lady Yun's words made considerable sense, and her proposal was appealing.

What she said was simple.

The Yi Clan had become far too large.

It had absorbed not only all the businesses formerly owned by the Jang Clan, but all its funds as well. Its trading companies had all been unified under the name Yi Trading Company, but there were no fewer than fifteen of them when counted separately.

It was enormous.

Lady Yun said this to the Hyeokri Clan Head.

They would divide the spoils gained from absorbing the Jang Clan exactly in half, so he should help persuade the Golden Heaven Divine Sword.

To be honest, from the cautious Hyeokri Wonpyeong's perspective, the ideal outcome would have been to take the remnants left behind after the Golden Heaven Divine Sword destroyed the Yi Clan.

But then Lady Yun continued.

Her offer was enough to make Hyeokri Wonpyeong decide.

“It was a mistake to put Won in the position of Clan Head.”

That was how she began.

And this was how she ended.

“Enter into a marriage alliance with me.”

“...A marriage alliance?”

“Yes. The Yi Clan will remain the Yi Clan, and the Hyeokri Clan will remain the Hyeokri Clan. But if we help one another whenever either clan faces a threat, then the Yi Clan and the Hyeokri Clan will be able to rule Jangnyeong County for a long time.”

Simply put, she wanted their relationship to become like that between the Yi Clan and the Yun Clan.

An alliance bound through marriage.

Whether they shared a bed or not did not matter. What mattered was that they were bound together.

If a clan that could threaten the Hyeokri Clan became firmly tied to them as an ally, there would be no need to scheme as they had been doing.

It was an enticing proposal, and Hyeokri Wonpyeong eventually accepted.

He did attach one condition.

“I will cooperate for now, but whether we enter into this marriage alliance will depend on whether the Golden Heaven Divine Sword is properly persuaded. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes. That is acceptable.”

Thus, the two factions joined hands.

Not long afterward, the doors of the Hyeokri Clan's Clan Head's Hall, where the secret meeting was being held, opened.

Two more people entered.

One was Yi Won, the Clan Head of the Yi Clan.

The other was Im Cheol-san, the magistrate of Jangnyeong County.

The talks went exceedingly well.

Magistrate Im Cheol-san smiled faintly.

“A demonic fiend named Yi Do rising in a place like Jangnyeong County? That cannot be allowed.”

That was not all.

“I have received so much from the Yi Clan. If a person has received something, it is only right to repay it. I will personally take responsibility for persuading that man called the Golden Heaven Divine Sword.”

Yi Won smiled.

“Thank you.”

* * *

It was late at night.

An old man with black hair entered Jangnyeong County.

He stood nearly six feet tall, his eyes clear and his back straight. A sword hung at his waist, and one glance was enough to tell that he was no ordinary man.

This man was Ma Heuk-rang, the Golden Heaven Divine Sword and an elder of the Emperor Sword Sect.

Several people blocked his path.

“It is an honor to meet you, Great Hero.”

Four men and one woman performed a cupped-fist salute at the same time.

“Who are you?”

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword asked boldly, and the five introduced themselves one by one.

Hyeokri Wonpyeong, the Hyeokri Clan Head, went first.

“Hyeokri Wonpyeong.”

“I have long heard that your clan is one of the clans ruling Jangnyeong County,” Ma Heuk-rang said.

“I am deeply grateful that you remember me.”

The next was Un Mu-jeong, the Clan Head of the Yun Clan, followed by Lady Yun, then Yi Won.

After those three introduced themselves, the Golden Heaven Divine Sword silently placed a hand on his sword. An overwhelming aura began to pour out.

Then Im Cheol-san, who had remained silent until the end, spoke.

“Good to meet you. I am Im Cheol-san, magistrate of Jangnyeong County.”

Ma Heuk-rang's hand paused.

“...Even the authorities have become involved?”

“Strictly speaking, it isn't involvement, but I suppose that depends on how you choose to see it. First, there is something I would like to say.”

“Go on.”

“Jangnyeong County is in a very chaotic state because of the events that have taken place recently.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“Don't you know that Jangnyeong County is a place the War King is watching?”

“...Hm...”

Rumors that tribute meant for the War King had burned to ashes had already spread through the martial world. Of course, that had only concerned the Sang-un Trading Company, which had now been swallowed by the Yi Clan.

Some of the martial world's most talkative people were even saying that the Sang-un Trading Company had been swallowed by the Yi Clan because the War King had intervened behind the scenes.

It was an opinion held by only a handful among a handful, but its existence was what mattered.

A magistrate's skill at twisting words was considerable. He could tie this much together.

“I have heard that the three people from the Yi Clan here had nothing to do with the destruction of the Jang Clan.”

“How can that be? The Yi Clan's destruction of the Jang Clan is already a fact known throughout the martial world.”

“It was reported incorrectly.”

“...What?”

“These people tried to stop Yi Do. The destruction of the Jang Clan was entirely the independent act of that madman, Yi Do.”

As though she had been waiting for it, Lady Yun spoke.

“We are not lying because we fear incurring the wrath of you and the Emperor Sword Sect. The Yi Clan isn't such a famous clan that you would know us in detail, but we have never committed much killing until now. That is something you could confirm simply by asking any passerby.”

“...”

“We tried to stop him from killing people so brutally. That is certainly true, but...”

“The result is already before us. My disciple's clan was destroyed, and every member of that clan was slaughtered. Even a first-generation disciple of the Emperor Sword Sect was killed. Do you truly think such words are appropriate to say to me now?”

“I understand your anger, Great Hero. But what are we supposed to do when there are clear facts, yet we are misunderstood? What other choice did we have but to come before you and tell you the truth?”

“Hmm...”

“I understand that you came to kill the culprit. If you kill Yi Do, all debts and grudges will be settled.”

“No, how can you speak of debts and grudges being settled so easily? Was the Jang Clan not destroyed?”

“Yes. It was destroyed. But isn't there one most important person still left?”

“...”

“Your disciple, Jang Un-yeon. We intend to actively help him rebuild the Jang Clan in Jangnyeong County. If you wish, we will draw up a contract guaranteeing his rights to every business formerly belonging to the Jang Clan that was recently merged into the Yi Clan.”

“You will help rebuild it?”

“Yes.”

Ma Heuk-rang considered it for a moment.

To others, he might have appeared shaken.

But he was not.

His resolve had already been firm.

There was only one thing that troubled him.

The magistrate.

The authorities had intervened.

Then he had no choice but to fabricate a scenario.

A plan took shape in his mind. Yi Do had destroyed his own clan and the Hyeokri Clan as well, then Ma Heuk-rang, the Golden Heaven Divine Sword, had killed him.

If the magistrate there testified to that, the Emperor Sword Sect's honor would rise high, and the magistrate would maintain a good relationship with the Emperor Sword Sect.

Was that not the true meaning of righteousness?

Ma Heuk-rang, the Golden Heaven Divine Sword, smiled kindly.

“Whatever happens, I will kill that man named Yi Do before I leave. If you intend to protect him, say so now.”

Lady Yun smiled.

“How could we? His nature is so vicious that he is not well regarded even within the clan. There couldn't possibly be anyone who would protect him.”

“Good. I would like to see this man named Yi Do. Where is he?”

Yi Won, who had remained quiet, immediately answered.

“He is in the Yi Clan's Clan Head's bedchamber.”

He would kill Yi Do first, then stage the fabricated scenario.

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword walked forward in silence.

* * *

I opened my eyes.

An old man entered through the iron door.

Boom.

The iron door closed.

He looked around.

“...I smell blood. It is the unmistakable scent of at least hundreds, no, thousands of people.”

I slowly rose.

“So your nature truly is vicious. It seems you trained in Demonic arts here.”

Strictly speaking, this place had belonged to Yi Se-geuk. Whatever he had done in this space had nothing to do with me.

But I had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding.

“My heart aches.”

“...Your heart aches? How much could the man who destroyed my disciple's clan possibly ache?”

“That is different. I made my brother Clan Head after he knelt and begged me to. He kept crossing the line, but I believed I could keep Yi Won in check and entrusted him with certain tasks. Yet rather than persuade him, he sold me out.”

“Yes. This is the martial world.”

“That is right. This is the martial world. Once I leave this place, I will kill every person connected to this. That is how debts and grudges work.”

“If you wish to leave this place, you must first get past me. Do you think that will be possible?”

He silently drew the sword at his waist.

“Ma Heuk-rang, the Golden Heaven Divine Sword. Your realm is the Creation Realm. You are a difficult opponent for me right now, but...”

A gentle smile formed on my lips.

“It's worth a try.”

Ma Heuk-rang stared quietly at my smile before speaking.

“Your smile is filled with killing intent. How many times have you shown a smile like that?”

“Many times. Too many to count.”

“...You are different.”

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword wore a complicated expression.

“You are different from those fools who offered me a deal earlier. That is why it is all the more regrettable. Your talent is exceptional, and your moves are ruthless. Had you only walked the right path, you would have had more than enough potential to become a blessing to the martial world...”

I ignored him.

“Didn't you come to settle debts and grudges? If you came to spout nonsense, turn around and leave.”

“Ha ha... A young junior speaks quite sharply.”

Silently, I kicked the stone monument at my feet.

It toppled over.

At the same time,

Rumble-!!

With the sound of the world collapsing, the landscape around us changed completely.

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword's eyes widened.

“Good heavens... What in the world is this...?”

I spoke calmly.

“It is called the Nine-Palace Roaring-Calamity Death-Emperor Demon-Light Formation.”

“...”

“It is a formation made with six hundred years' worth of energy. You will not be able to use Natural Qi in here.”

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword's eyes twitched.

Reaching the Four Realms of Heaven and Earth meant being able to use Natural Qi.

The Creation Realm was its entry stage.

Simply drawing upon Natural Qi allowed them to wield power that was nearly inhuman.

Even martial artists at the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms could use nature's energy.

But what those of the Four Realms of Heaven and Earth used was on another level.

The Four Qi-Cultivation Realms allowed one to borrow a small amount of nature's energy, while the Four Realms of Heaven and Earth allowed one to take nature's energy into one's entire body and become nature itself. That was Natural Qi.

That was the difference between the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms and the Four Realms of Heaven and Earth.

Even a hundred masters of the Five Qis Return to Origin could not stand against a single master of the Creation Realm.

That was the level of power involved.

And now I had sealed it away.

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword was now no more than a master of the Five Qis Return to Origin with a somewhat stronger body.

In contrast, I could use Properly Aligned Qi, neither Natural Qi nor ordinary internal energy.

It was definitely worth a try.

I slowly drew up Properly Aligned Qi.

Through my lower dantian, through my fully opened middle dantian, through the two rings.

The explosively surging Properly Aligned Qi gathered in my legs.

I immediately pushed off the ground.

The Golden Heaven Divine Sword drew his sword and twisted his body to the side, but