WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 29: Mad Venerable

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A stinging pain flared across Ma Heuk-rang’s back, making his brow crease slightly. But it was nothing.

Pain like this?

He was used to it.

What martial artist would yield to pain?

He raised his head.

The “demonic fiend” was charging straight at him.

Ma Heuk-rang turned his head aside. Yi Do’s sword grazed past his face. He reached out and seized the bastard’s arm.

Then he drove his head forward.

It was not an attack befitting a master who had reached the Creation Realm, but no one was here to see it. He had no intention of simply killing Yi Do.

He intended to play with him.

Yet Yi Do’s next reaction caught Ma Heuk-rang off guard.

Crash!

Their foreheads collided.

That was right. Yi Do had also thrust his head forward as though to headbutt him.

‘...Was that a coincidence?’

For some reason, Ma Heuk-rang felt as though Yi Do had read his intentions.

No. It had to be his imagination.

He yanked Yi Do’s arm, throwing him off balance, then immediately kicked out.

Boom!

Yi Do flew away after taking the blow to his stomach. Ma Heuk-rang gripped his sword tightly and launched himself forward.

Yi Do landed lightly like a bird, then kicked off the ground as well.

Ma Heuk-rang thrust out his sword.

[Firmament Boundless Sword Art]

[First Form: Thirteen Lightning Sword-Thunders]

Under normal circumstances, thirteen bolts of lightning would strike down, seizing every direction in an instant before cutting Yi Do’s entire body apart at once.

Instead, there was not even a trace of lightning. Only a sword wrapped in simple sword qi shot forward.

That was still enough.

There were thirteen swords in all. One was real, while the other twelve were fragments formed from sword qi. If even one landed, Yi Do’s body would be torn to pieces.

Still, Yi Do’s reaction surprised Ma Heuk-rang once again.

His feet intertwined.

They touched the ground, then pushed off. His waist, arms, head, every part of his body moved as though he were dancing.

Three streams of sword qi brushed past Yi Do’s side. Five passed over his head. The remaining five swept over Yi Do’s back as he bent deeply forward. Four were sword-qi fragments, while the fifth was Ma Heuk-rang’s real sword.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

It was an astonishing footwork art.

Ma Heuk-rang had never seen it before, yet it was so profound and powerful that he could not begin to grasp the principles it contained.

There was no time to remain flustered.

Yi Do’s fist shot toward him.

Ma Heuk-rang raised his knee to block it. Yi Do’s sword followed immediately after, fast as lightning.

[Heaven-Transcending Thunder Sword Formula]

A perfect sword strike.

He had no idea what martial art it was, but the energies in the air twisted and split apart. It was unquestionably a supreme technique among supreme techniques.

It was impressive, but that was all.

Ma Heuk-rang swung his sword as well.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion rang out, and Yi Do’s sword broke in half.

Yi Do staggered back, then spun. His left heel lashed toward Ma Heuk-rang’s temple.

Ma Heuk-rang held his blade upright and thrust it forward.

He meant to make Yi Do injure himself with his own attack.

Then Yi Do stopped.

His foot came to a halt.

Yi Do spun again, and his other foot slammed into Ma Heuk-rang’s opposite temple.

Crash!

The impact sent Ma Heuk-rang staggering three or four steps to the side. In the end, he could not help voicing his admiration.

“...Remarkable.”

Ma Heuk-rang subtly stimulated his upper dantian. The Natural Qi he had always sensed was nowhere to be found.

This formation was clearly responsible.

...He had no words.

“I have never seen or even heard of a formation like this. A formation that blocks Natural Qi, and that footwork of yours. Compared to those methods of yours that reek of blood, it is far too profound and far too pure. What exactly are you?”

Yi Do silently pulled three or four elixir pills from his robes and tossed them into his mouth. His body, which had seemed somewhat exhausted, regained its vigor.

“You intend to replenish your depleted internal energy with spiritual medicine? Under ordinary circumstances, even if you used the energy absorbed from spiritual medicine as internal energy right away, you could only use twenty or thirty percent of its original power. What sort of inner art are you practicing that lets you use all the energy from those medicines exactly as it is?”

There were far too many questions.

An ignorant person would simply think, He is incredible, or, He is insane.

Ma Heuk-rang was not one of those people.

To Ma Heuk-rang, a Creation Realm master, Yi Do standing before him was an utterly bizarre existence.

An existence beyond explanation.

Yi Do spoke.

“Did you come here just to run your mouth?”

“...”

“I told you before. If you came here to run your mouth, open the door and get out.”

“Huh...”

“If that is not why you came, get your head straight. Things will be different from here on out.”

“Different?”

Ma Heuk-rang laughed in disbelief.

“Are you not getting too full of yourself? Even if this bizarre formation has sealed the power of Natural Qi, your realm is only Five Dragons Honoring the Sage. It is an incredible realm for your age, but do you truly believe a body that has not unified the middle and lower dantians can defeat this body?”

Yi Do did not bother answering.

“I told the Sect Leader I would kill you, but I find myself reconsidering. I may let you live.”

Yi Do did not reply this time either. He only stood there silently with his eyes closed as Ma Heuk-rang continued.

“Cast aside the name Yi Do. I will give you a new name. Promise to serve as a Shadow of the Emperor Sword Sect, and I will spare your life.”

Only then did Yi Do react.

He snorted.

Yi Do opened his eyes, making Ma Heuk-rang flinch.

How could a person’s eyes be so red?

“Live as a Shadow? Like the Yaksha, the Azure Dragon, and the Black Tortoise?”

Ma Heuk-rang’s eyes widened.

“...How do you know those names?”

As I’ve said time and again, the martial world is not a beautiful place.

The Emperor Sword Sect was one of the greatest powers in the martial world. Did it really earn that position through nothing but strength and reputation?

Of course not.

The higher one rose, and the longer one lived, the more filth one tended to gather.

Someone had to clean away that filth. They could either commission another force or use their faction’s hidden strength to wipe it clean.

The three names Yi Do had mentioned belonged to the Emperor Sword Sect’s hidden strength. They operated in the shadows for the sect.

They concealed the Emperor Sword Sect’s shame and pinned it on others.

Those three had also covered up all of the Sword Emperor’s unpleasant hobbies.

Yi Do had met all three of them.

Then he killed them all.

It was not simply that he killed them. He had received a request.

After receiving that request, he killed them without pain.

“I was going to split your head in half with my sword. What a shame.”

Yi Do tossed his half-broken sword aside.

Hoo.

He let out a long breath.

“I will say just one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“Think very carefully before you speak from now on. What you say will be your last words.”

“...Fine. I will subdue you first, then we can have a proper conversation. There is much I wish to ask you. Above all, you must tell me how to deploy this formation.”

There was no reason to answer.

Yi Do kicked off the ground.

This was completely different from before. Ma Heuk-rang’s eyes widened.

He immediately raised his sword.

Boom!

A thunderous sound erupted as Ma Heuk-rang’s body slid backward. He tried to move his sword, but it would not budge.

Yi Do’s left hand was gripping it.

His grip was powerful.

No, that was not it. The concentration of energy in Yi Do’s hand was simply far too dense.

It was strange energy.

Yi Do had consumed spiritual medicine, so he should have been using the medicine’s energy. Yet this power was... far too dense.

Just as Ma Heuk-rang tried to kick out,

Boom!

He hurriedly raised his other hand over his face. He had no choice.

The sword Yi Do had seized with his crimson hand exploded.

Sword fragments burst in every direction. A few embedded themselves in Ma Heuk-rang’s fingers, but that did not matter.

Yi Do’s other palm immediately struck Ma Heuk-rang’s solar plexus.

The moment that wicked energy entered his body, Ma Heuk-rang reacted. He spun and swung his leg.

Thwack!

Yi Do took the blow to the face and was pushed two steps sideways. His brow furrowed in pain.

Then Yi Do’s crimson eyes fixed on Ma Heuk-rang, who had lost his balance.

Goosebumps rose all over Ma Heuk-rang’s body.

Yi Do’s foot rose high into the air.

Then it came down.

[Asura Heaven-Breaking Five Arts]

[Heaven-Breaking Extinction Earth Kick]

Ma Heuk-rang hurriedly raised a hand.

The kick struck his arm.

He blocked it.

The instant he thought that, his expression twisted.

With a crunch like sand being crushed, Ma Heuk-rang’s right arm vanished.

* * *

I could not drag this out.

I had to finish quickly.

I had taken one of Ma Heuk-rang’s arms.

Ma Heuk-rang’s eyes flashed. An instinctive warning born from experience rang through my mind. I immediately twisted my body aside.

But I was slightly too late.

Ma Heuk-rang’s palm touched my abdomen.

The Emperor Sword Sect did not train only in swordsmanship. Their palm arts were also regarded as supreme techniques.

His immense internal energy surged toward me like a wave.

It was definitely the Heavenly Wind Great Expansion Palm.

I could not do anything more with this body.

I gathered all my Properly Aligned Qi into my abdomen.

Boom!

My body flew far back with a burst of agony. I crashed into the ground and rolled three or four times.

Thud.

I braced myself against the ground with one hand.

Haa.

After taking one deep breath, I rose to my feet. My limbs shook violently.

It was not by my will.

This was a warning from my body and mind.

I raised my head.

Ma Heuk-rang was staring blankly at his completely vanished right arm.

I looked around.

The formation was still holding, but I did not know how much longer it would last.

I poured the remaining spiritual medicine into my mouth, then immediately circulated the Primal Unity Qi Technique.

Its effect was slight compared to practicing while seated in meditation, but I could circulate it regardless.

That was the Primal Unity Qi Technique.

I converted as much energy as possible into Properly Aligned Qi. The shaking in my body eased.

As I wiped the blood flowing from the corner of my mouth, Ma Heuk-rang’s voice pierced my ears.

“...That martial art feels familiar.”

Ma Heuk-rang’s eyes had darkened.

It was understandable.

“...To think I would see that bitch’s martial arts in a place like this.”

I burst out laughing.

Apparently, he found that strange.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Why? A bastard who would piss and shit himself the moment he faced her, yet talks this much nonsense because he has not met her, is funny. How could I not laugh?”

“...That’s if she ever shows herself. You managed to learn martial arts from that bitch, the Martial World’s Public Enemy, who got scared and hid herself away in the martial world.”

There was no need to answer.

One fact was clear.

My current body could not defeat him.

He had lost an arm, but the formation was nearing its end, and all my internal energy was exhausted. Even if I refilled it somehow with spiritual medicine, it would not be enough.

No matter what I did, I was bound to lose this fight.

That was what a difference in realm meant.

As proof, I could barely keep myself upright, while the Golden Heaven Divine Sword was still perfectly fine aside from losing one arm.

His internal energy?

It remained as abundant as the sea.

He had enough left to twist off my neck and tear apart my limbs.

“I meant to let you live and give you a new name, but if you are that bitch’s disciple, things are different. I will give you two choices.”

“...”

“The first is to die while I interrogate you under torture. I will torture you until you answer every question I have. The other is to tell me everything you know right now. If you do, I will kill you without pain.”

No matter what I chose, Ma Heuk-rang would never give me an easy death.

I had never seen the man named Ma Heuk-rang in my previous life, but I knew what sort of bastard he was.

Birds of a feather flock together. You could tell enough just by looking at the bastards he associated with.

“I prefer the third option.”

“The third?”

“I split your head open. That is the third option.”

“...You leave me speechless. Fine. I will handle this myself.”

I silently pulled a small box from my robes.

The Heavenly Spirit Root Pill left behind by that bastard called the Iron-Blooded Demon Emperor.

I avoided consuming unidentified elixir pills like this whenever possible, but I had no other choice.

I opened the box and poured the brilliantly multicolored pill inside into my mouth.

“You truly have a great many spiritual medicines. So many that I cannot help finding them a waste.”

He went on and on about my thorough preparations, how many elixirs I had left, and all sorts of other things.

My head rang.

The pain went beyond throbbing. It felt as though something were compressing my skull.

I nearly collapsed.

My brow furrowed.

The meridians throughout my body suddenly slipped out of control and writhed madly. My middle dantian shook, and so did my lower dantian.

The two rings began swelling wildly as though they would burst at any moment.

Thud.

I finally fell to one knee.

Something was wrong.

Whatever flowed through my body now was absolutely not internal energy.

Properly Aligned Qi?

It was somewhat similar, but... different.

I clutched my head with one hand. It felt as though it would explode.

The Baihui acupoint, where my upper dantian should have been, was blazing hot.

I saw him approaching me.

“Is this not the side effect of mindlessly stuffing yourself with spiritual medicine?”

Dense killing intent struck every part of my body.

I had to respond.

I had to move.

My muscles and nerves would not listen.

“You foolish bastard. Let us begin by cutting off both your arms and legs.”

I saw Ma Heuk-rang’s face twisted in a sinister smile. Beyond him, his sword came down toward me.

It was a heavy sword, as though an enormous mountain were falling.

[Emperor’s Azure-Heaven Sword]

A supreme technique said to be taught only to elder-level members of the Emperor Sword Sect.

In the past, the Sword Emperor had cut apart a mountain with that technique.

The sword descended.

Everything felt slow.

As the sword traced its path through the air, my mind opened.

My upper dantian awakened.

The senses throughout my body, which had slipped out of control, returned in an instant. Crimson light began to stream from my eyes like smoke.

I could feel it.

That power from the days when I had contended not for this vast martial world, but for all under heaven.

At that moment,

I had become the Mad Venerable of the Three Emperors and Seven Venerables.

I reached out.

Thud.

I caught Ma Heuk-rang’s sword.

“One last struggle, is it? Yes, if I was not mistaken, your will surpasses that of ordinary martial artists by far. That must be why that bitch accepted you as a disciple.”

“...I am sick of hearing you call her that.”

“Defending her because she is your master? Do not worry. That bitch will die soon enough anyway.”

Ma Heuk-rang sneered, then gathered his internal energy and exerted force.

Then he panicked.

The sword did not move at all.

I stood up.

Ma Heuk-rang staggered back.

“What... what is that...?”

The figure reflected in his eyes was extremely strange.

My hair shook wildly as though caught in the wind. My eyes were red, and so was every exposed part of my body, including my arms.

He was not familiar with that appearance.

I was all too familiar with it.

When the lower and middle dantians become one, it is called the true dantian.

When one circulates at least five rings, activates both the true dantian and upper dantian, and employs the Asura Heaven-Breaking Five Arts, this is the result.

Master had called this state the Asura Incarnation.

“D... Demonic practitioner. You truly were a demonic practitioner...”

I gripped the fearfully trembling Ma Heuk-rang by the neck with my other hand.

“Asura is not a demonic practitioner.”

It felt refreshing.

As if every chain that had bound me had come undone.

“I do not wish to blame you for your ignorance, but study a little more in your next life.”

I tightened my grip.

His protective qi tore apart like paper.

Then,

Crack.

Ma Heuk-rang’s neck snapped.

I kicked out without hesitation.

Boom!

Ma Heuk-rang’s abdomen exploded, separating his body in two.

I collapsed where I stood.

The clarity I had felt for that brief moment turned back into pain.

My opened upper dantian closed. My middle dantian swelled as though it would burst, and the rings shook violently.

My meridians danced madly.

Cough.

Black blood poured from my mouth.

Stabilize.

I had to stabilize it.

No, before that.

I forced myself to walk. One of my legs dragged across the ground as though it had been paralyzed.

I picked up the sword lying on the ground.

Only half remained, but it was enough.

I kept moving.

Ma Heuk-rang’s upper body was still there. His neck was clearly broken, yet he was astonishingly still alive.

He was a master of the Creation Realm. I could not treat his body as an ordinary one.

His upper and lower body had been completely separated, so he would certainly die soon.

That was not enough for me.

Cough.

Blood spilled from my mouth. Every part of my body screamed at me to shut up and collapse onto the ground.

But no.

It was not time to rest yet.

I still had something to do.

I had said it myself.

That I would split his head in half.

I brought my sword down upon the bastard whose eyes asked what the hell I intended to do.

Crack!

Ma Heuk-rang’s head split in half.

Footnotes:

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