WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Alyo
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈
Chapter 32: How Dare a Mere Official
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“What was your name again?”
Under Hwang No-baek’s gaze, Yeom Gil-seong answered in a trembling voice.
“...Yeom Gil-seong.”
“Yeom Gil-seong. Not a bad name. Why is a servant of the Yi Clan here?”
“...Young Master Yi Do told me to come here.”
“...That man did?”
“Yes. He told me to give this to you and receive instruction from you.”
As Yi Do had instructed, Yeom Gil-seong handed over the spiritual medicine and martial manual.
Hwang No-baek’s expression grew strange.
“...It is not as though he harmed me only to turn around and offer the cure, so why is he giving me spiritual medicine? And what is this...”
Hwang No-baek fell silent upon opening the manual.
Slowly, page by page, Hwang No-baek leafed through it.
“Huh... Ho...”
After several exclamations, Hwang No-baek snapped the manual shut.
“...Yi Do. I truly have no idea what kind of man he is.”
Hwang No-baek’s expression was deeply complicated. It was neither joy nor sorrow.
In a low voice, Hwang No-baek muttered, “These are the authentic ultimate arts of the Mount Hua Sect, which was destroyed centuries ago. The Purple-Cloud Divine Technique, the Plum Blossom Yin-Yang Sword Art, and the Seven-Star Steps.”
Yeom Gil-seong remained silent.
He had never doubted Yi Do. If Yi Do said they were ultimate arts, then they were. The genuine article among genuine articles.
“...You have no idea why I’m this flustered right now.”
Of course Yeom Gil-seong did not.
Hwang No-baek continued, “My name is Hwang No-baek, and my father’s name was Hwang Cheol. He had another name as well. Do you know what it was?”
“...I do not.”
“Un Cheol. He was the final martial artist of the destroyed Mount Hua Sect.”
This was something even Jo Hyeon had not known.
“The sect was destroyed six hundred years ago, but its lineage endured. It merely survived, though. It could never rise again. Do you know why?”
“...I do not know that either.”
“Because every ultimate art was lost. All that remained were the first seven forms of the Fourteen-Form Plum Blossom Sword Art. Not a single inner art remained, and even its footwork was gone. Fist arts? Palm arts? There is no need to mention them. I’ll ask again. Did Yi Do truly give you this martial manual?”
Yeom Gil-seong nodded.
“...Then that man knew of my origins. Ha... Hahahahahaha!”
Hwang No-baek burst into laughter.
Yi Do had said he would reward Hwang No-baek.
Hwang No-baek had replied that he trusted Yi Do would see to his reward properly.
To be honest, Hwang No-baek had not expected much.
More than anything, Hwang No-baek had not wanted to become further entangled with Yi Do. The air around that man was far too thick with the smell of blood.
Anyone who became involved with him would surely suffer for it.
And yet.
Mount Hua Sect martial arts.
Good heavens.
What in the world was that man’s true identity?
“This is driving me mad.”
“Um... He also said this.”
“What did he say?”
“...I’m not good with words, so I’ll simply repeat exactly what the young master said.”
“...Go on.”
“Yes. ‘Jo Hyeon and Hwang No-baek, both of you are to deny any connection to me. It would be better to claim that I exploited you. From this moment on, you and I are strangers. And as for the Dongpo pork, let’s say you already ate it.’ That is what he said.”
Hwang No-baek held his head.
Good grief.
“To think I’d suddenly end up raising two disciples I never expected to have.”
Hwang No-baek made a vague gesture.
“Go wipe the tables or something. From today onward, you’re an attendant at the Golden Guesthouse. You’re also my second disciple.”
“...Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for? Go on.”
With another dismissive gesture, Hwang No-baek opened the window and looked outside.
Dawn had yet to break.
Still.
The smell of blood in the air foretold that countless people would die in Jangnyeong County today.
No, it was likely already happening.
Hwang No-baek desperately wanted to know Yi Do’s true identity, but perhaps there would never be another chance.
Yi Do had drawn a clear line between them.
Hwang No-baek did not know what Yi Do intended to do next.
...Wait.
A chill suddenly ran through Hwang No-baek’s entire body.
Who had sold Yi Do out to the Golden Heaven Divine Sword?
Lady Yun, Un Mu-jeong, Yi Won, Hyeokri Wonpyeong, and Hyeokri Yang-geon.
Those five were not all.
There was one more.
The magistrate of Jangnyeong County, Im Cheol-san.
“...Fuck.”
It could not be.
It absolutely could not be.
But if that was not it, why would Yi Do draw such a clear line?
If the authorities launched an investigation, they would investigate everyone down to those whose arms had merely brushed against him.
...No matter how recklessly Yi Do acted, he would not touch an official.
This was on an entirely different level from provoking a sect.
If he laid hands on the authorities, especially someone of a magistrate’s rank...
“...Ha...”
Hwang No-baek did not even want to imagine it.
Yet somehow, Hwang No-baek felt Yi Do would really do it.
Surely not.
He could not be that insane.
* * *
Crash-!!
A member of the Hyeokri Clan’s Gale Force flew through the shattered doors. His body rolled across the ground before coming to a stop at a man’s feet.
He collapsed.
Then he raised his head.
A man drenched in blood from head to toe was slowly walking toward him.
“Mon... Monster...”
Five Gale Force members rushed at Yi Do, the monster.
Their swords flew toward him.
Yi Do twisted aside. One blade passed before his face. He pushed off the ground and closed in on the Gale Force member who had swung it.
His hand clamped tightly around the man’s neck.
Crack!
Yi Do flung aside the corpse with its crushed neck, knocking two Gale Force members to the ground with it.
He stretched out both hands.
The swords swung by the remaining two Gale Force members were caught, one in each hand.
He tightened his grip.
Bang!
With a thunderous crash, both swords shattered.
Yi Do spun. His foot crushed one person’s throat, and his outstretched hand burst the other’s head.
Yi Do walked over and stomped on the necks of the two Gale Force members sprawled on the ground, one after the other.
Crack. Crack.
They were no match for him.
Calling it a massacre would not have been wrong.
Countless corpses already lay scattered behind Yi Do.
He picked up a sword from the ground and slowly approached the man sitting on the floor.
“You’re Hyeokri Wonpyeong’s nephew, Hyeokri Jung-su. Am I right?”
“Y-Yes... That’s right...”
“Then that will do.”
Slash-!
Hyeokri Jung-su’s head shot into the air.
Yi Do started walking again.
Once he began something, he never stopped halfway through. That also meant leaving no sprouts behind.
Yi Do intended to destroy the Hyeokri Clan.
Clan destruction meant killing every person who bore the Hyeokri name.
This man had been the last one.
Yi Do raised his head.
The Hyeokri Clan’s Gale Force had originally consisted of three hundred martial artists.
Today, one hundred and eighty had died.
“...You demonic fiend... Don’t you get tired?!”
Yi Do turned his head.
A Gale Force member was pointing a trembling sword at him.
He answered calmly, “Do I look like I’m not tired?”
“...”
“I’ll give you a chance. My goal is the Hyeokri Clan’s destruction. Every Hyeokri is dead now. There is no one left for you to protect. If you still wish to fight, come forward.”
“...”
“If not, leave while I’m giving you the chance. Before I kill every last one of you.”
The instant Yi Do finished speaking, at least half of the Gale Force members threw down their weapons and began running.
The Hyeokri Clan had fallen.
That was an undeniable fact.
Those who had not fled looked at one another, then all began to run as well.
This was the end of the Hyeokri Clan, one of the Three Great Clans of Jangnyeong.
Having achieved his objective, Yi Do stood rooted to the spot.
He had no choice.
Dozens of men had surrounded him, shouting, “You there! Do not move from that spot!”
Yi Do frowned when he saw their uniforms.
“The authorities?”
Someone answered him.
“Ho ho ho, yes, the authorities. You madman, how much more chaos must you cause in Jangnyeong County before you’re satisfied?”
“...”
“You’ve crossed the line. It seems the Golden Heaven Divine Sword spared you, but this is why martial artists are... Tsk.”
Yi Do wondered who the man was.
“Who are you?”
The one who answered was Constable Jeong Sun-won, who stood at the man’s side.
“You insolent brat! Who do you think you are, speaking like that before this man? This is Magistrate Im Cheol-san, the magistrate of Jangnyeong County. Show respect at once!”
The moment he heard the name, a gentle smile appeared on Yi Do’s lips, one that had not been seen until now.
“Magistrate Im Cheol-san?”
“Are you determined to learn the hard way, you little...!”
Im Cheol-san placed a hand on the constable’s shoulder and smiled as gently as Yi Do.
“Ho ho, enough. Isn’t this the illegitimate son they say is so poorly educated that he cannot even speak properly?”
Im Cheol-san thrust out his chest and spoke with complete confidence.
“With my broad heart, I’ll forgive your manner of speech. Now, kneel where you stand.”
“Kneel?”
“That’s right. Kneel. I’ll have you taken to the government office.”
“There has only been one time in my life when I’ve knelt.”
“Then this will be the second. If you submit peacefully, I won’t have you tortured.”
Yi Do shook his head.
“I have a better idea. Would you like to hear it?”
“...A better idea? Fine. Let me hear it.”
Yi Do gripped his sword and began walking forward.
Im Cheol-san frowned.
“Stop. Do not come any closer.”
Yi Do stopped abruptly.
“Are you afraid?”
“...”
“You call yourself a magistrate, yet your nerve is this small. Can you truly handle the affairs of the state with such little courage?”
Im Cheol-san’s brow twitched.
“You bastard... It seems killing a few martial artists has made you think nothing is beyond you. You must know what position a magistrate holds, yet you continue to spout such nonsense before me?”
Yi Do said one thing.
“You talk too much.”
“...”
“Did you become a magistrate with words alone?”
“...Constable.”
“Yes, Magistrate.”
“That bastard still hasn’t come to his senses. Go subdue him and bring him before me.”
Jeong Sun-won smiled brightly.
“I will.”
Jeong Sun-won untied the arresting rope from their waist and approached Yi Do.
“It was you who threw away the opportunity the magistrate granted you. Do not resent me.”
Jeong Sun-won thought Yi Do would remain still.
Jeong Sun-won could not think otherwise.
Jeong Sun-won was a constable, but he still belonged to the authorities.
For a martial artist, laying hands on an official was something that must never be done. The Embroidered Uniform Guard would hunt down anyone who did it. It took extraordinary nerve to bear that.
They would have to be insane.
And Yi Do...
Yi Do was insane enough.
As Jeong Sun-won unwound the rope to bind Yi Do, a shadow fell over their face.
They heard the sound of thunder.
That was the last thing they heard.
Slash-!!
Jeong Sun-won’s body, cut in half, crumpled to the ground.
Everyone around them flinched.
“Y-You madman... Are you really going to lay hands on an official?!”
“Am I not allowed to?”
They had no answer.
An ordinary martial artist would never dare.
Yi Do advanced.
There were people who tried to stop him.
They were constables.
All of them were cut down.
Rumble-!
Blood sprayed in every direction alongside the sound of thunder.
Im Cheol-san stumbled backward.
This had not been part of his calculations.
“...W-Wait... I am a magistrate...!”
He shouted at Yi Do, who had come right before him, but it did not matter.
“Your name was among those who sold me out to the Golden Heaven Divine Sword.”
“...That was...!”
“Did you think I would let you off just because you are a magistrate?”
“...You think you can lay hands on the authorities and remain unscathed?”
“You’re thinking about it backward.”
“What?”
“Do you think a mere official can lay hands on me and remain unscathed?”
“...You insane bastard...”
“Even if you were the emperor instead of a magistrate, anyone who dares lay hands on me will die.”
“...”
“Whether I stop or not is for me to decide. Not you.”
“...Wait. Let’s talk first.”
“Haven’t we talked enough already?”
Stab-!
Yi Do’s sword pierced Im Cheol-san’s heart.
He withdrew it.
Im Cheol-san coughed up blood.
Slash-!
Yi Do sent his head flying.
Footnotes:
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