WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

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◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 37: Total Annihilation

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A little north of Wi County lay Busin County.

Busin County was home to a sizable mountain that could rival those of other regions. It was called Busin Mountain.

Probationary Hundred-Household Commander Shin Gong-baek slowly read the letter in hand.

“Last seen at Busin Mountain... Using a cave there as a safe house...?”

Shin Gong-baek’s first instinct was to question its authenticity.

Shin Gong-baek turned, and a member of Baek So-ho’s unit assigned to assist Shin Gong-baek spoke as though waiting for the chance.

“After questioning people from Jangnyeong County, we learned that the Yi Clan’s trading caravans passed through Busin Mountain several times.”

“And?”

“Yes. Each time, the caravans rested at a hermitage. We have secured testimony that there was a large cave nearby where they could unload their cargo.”

“So the bastard did not get far.”

“Yes.”

That was correct.

As far as the world knew, the notorious fiend known as the Cruel Demonic Fiend, Yi Do, had reached no higher than Twin Sun Manifestation, the initial stage of the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms.

He had previously been believed to be in the Circulation Realm, but it was impossible for him to have advanced into the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms in only a few days.

Yi Do had been at Twin Sun Manifestation from the start.

The accepted explanation for how a martial artist of that level had killed several Five Dragons Honoring the Sage martial artists ranked a tier above him was that he had mastered Demonic arts.

That explained everything.

His strikes were decisive because he had mastered Demonic arts, and because he had mastered Demonic arts, he could somehow kill opponents at a higher realm. The reason this had not become widely known was that most of those who had opposed him were dead. There had been quite a few witnesses, but they were ignorant fools who knew nothing.

If that was the case...

A martial artist who had learned Demonic arts had gone around killing people like mad. Could there truly be no backlash?

Demonic arts allowed one to wield great power, but they always came with severe side effects.

Those side effects varied, but most Demonic arts required a great deal of time to recover from.

That was it.

The bastard was resting right now. He had clearly yet to recover from his injuries.

His location had remained unknown until now. This was the first solid lead they had obtained.

“We are going to Busin Mountain.”

The two hundred Imperial Guards behind Shin Gong-baek shouted.

“By your command!”

Shin Gong-baek and the Embroidered Uniform Guard headed for Busin Mountain.

They did not simply run there. They rode hard without stopping.

They had received the news from the Beggar’s Gate only eight hours earlier.

Yet they reached Busin Mountain within those eight hours.

At the foot of the mountain, they dismounted together, checked their weapons, and climbed upward.

They had just arrived at the hermitage when they heard a voice.

“You are late.”

The moment Shin Gong-baek saw the man standing at the hermitage with his hands behind his back, Shin Gong-baek smiled.

“Not bad.”

No wonder Shin Gong-baek said that.

“You did not even run. You waited for us?”

“Run... How could a martial artist flee with his back turned? Especially from the likes of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Even after hearing that, Shin Gong-baek’s smile did not fade.

“I heard your courage was extraordinary, but it seems you are simply foolish.”

“Is that what it looks like?”

“If not, there is no reason for you to stand there putting on airs. Show us what you have prepared.”

Yi Do looked around.

“This mountain is called Busin Mountain now, but in the past, it was called Mount Radiant Glory. It is a place of exceptional beauty.”

“...”

“It is also far too fine a place for your graves.”

Shin Gong-baek drew the sword hanging at his waist. Its clear ring echoed through the area.

Yi Do stared at Shin Gong-baek for a moment before speaking.

“I will give you one chance, the first and last. Whether you take it is your choice.”

“Oh... Very well. Go ahead.”

“Stop pursuing me. Do not pursue me again. End this here. Otherwise...”

“Otherwise?”

“You will all die on this mountain. Then I will kill those who come after you, and everyone who gave them information or aided them as well.”

Tremendous killing intent poured from every word. It was enough to make even Shin Gong-baek, who had reached Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, flinch.

“This offer will never be made again, whether you reject it or accept it. Your choice will determine the fates of you and the Imperial Guards behind you, so choose carefully. I will give you plenty of time.”

There was no need to deliberate.

“How dare you! You killed someone sustained by the imperial stipend and even broke the Nonaggression Pact between Government and Martial World. A mere novice of the martial world dares to spout such nonsense before me?”

An enormous amount of energy burst forth from Shin Gong-baek’s body. It came from a faint but unmistakable [true dantian], formed by completely unifying the lower and middle dantians.

The mountain seemed to tremble.

It was subtle, but it truly was trembling.

“I am Commander Shin, Shin Gong-baek. A decision? There is nothing to consider. You will die here. You even dishonored the Jeok Nation imperial house, so you will not die comfortably.”

“Good. That is all I needed.”

A gentle smile formed on Yi Do’s lips.

Several Imperial Guards flinched at the killing intent radiating from that smile.

Yi Do took a step back.

Then, with a thunderous boom, he kicked off the ground hard enough to make it explode. In an instant, he shot into the cave across from them.

Shin Gong-baek snorted.

“You spoke so confidently, yet all you can do is run?”

It completely contradicted Yi Do’s claim that he had never run before, and the sight was ridiculous.

“No matter what he has prepared, we are the noble Imperial Guards. We will now enter and execute the man who disgraced the imperial family. Steel yourselves.”

“Yes!”

“Move.”

Shin Gong-baek kicked off first.

The two hundred Imperial Guards behind Shin Gong-baek followed.

The moment all of them entered the cave...

Kuuuuung-!!

A deafening roar erupted, and the cave collapsed.

* * *

Shin Gong-baek came to an abrupt stop.

The color drained from Shin Gong-baek’s face.

Good heavens.

The cave had just collapsed.

It was not only the entrance, either.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that nearly the entire cave had caved in.

“...Ah...”

The reaction was only natural.

Who had been in front?

Shin Gong-baek.

There had been a considerable distance between Shin Gong-baek and the Imperial Guards following behind.

Which meant...

Everyone except Shin Gong-baek had been fully within range of the falling rocks.

“Survivors... Are there any survivors?”

There were.

Roughly twenty.

They struggled to their feet while clawing their way through the rubble.

One Imperial Guard shouted to Shin Gong-baek.

“Commander! Hurry and pursue the bastard... Kugh!”

A sword burst out through the Imperial Guard’s mouth.

To be clear, it was not Yi Do.

It was a man with long hair, dressed in crimson robes.

Shin Gong-baek did not know who he was. Still, Shin Gong-baek could tell that the man was at least of Five Dragons Honoring the Sage caliber.

The man shouted.

“How dare Imperial Guards point their weapons at a descendant of Great Kunlun!”

Wondering what the hell that was supposed to mean, Shin Gong-baek hurriedly jerked aside.

Slash-!!

A fraction too late, the side of Shin Gong-baek’s face was cut open, and blood sprayed down.

Yi Do.

“How does it feel?”

“...You damned demonic fiend...”

Shin Gong-baek kicked off the ground. Moving like a streak of light, Shin Gong-baek slammed directly into Yi Do.

Boom-!!

A tremendous crash rang out, and Yi Do flew back into the wall. As he slid down, a smile remained on his lips.

He could see it clearly.

Kang So-eo was brutally butchering the surviving Imperial Guards. He thrust his sword twice into the necks of those squirming beneath the rubble, then stomped down hard on the piles of stone.

More than one hundred and eighty Imperial Guards lay buried there.

Leaving aside those already dead, Yi Do was likely the only one smiling at the sight of Kang So-eo.

Shin Gong-baek was flustered.

Shin Gong-baek had never imagined things would turn out like this.

Since when had Yi Do prepared this?

He had collapsed the entire cave?

That mad bastard.

Shin Gong-baek turned toward Yi Do’s grinning face.

Why else would Yi Do have lured them here?

“I clearly gave you a chance.”

“...You bastard...!”

“Do not be too angry. Would the Imperial Guards who died first not have much to say to you when you join them?”

Yi Do looked utterly relaxed.

“To be honest, did I kill them, or did you?”

“...!”

“Putting aside the men who died due to their commander’s poor judgment, what do you think their families will say to you? Hm... Perhaps it would be better for you if I killed you here.”

“You son of a bitch... I will kill you!”

Yi Do smiled.

“Kang So-eo.”

“Yes!”

“There is one hiding in that corner. Go and finish him off.”

With a bright smile, Kang So-eo rushed over and found an Imperial Guard hiding in the corner. The guard was trembling, but Kang So-eo mercilessly drove his sword into his throat.

Squelch.

At that sound, Shin Gong-baek lost all reason.

Shin Gong-baek kicked off the ground, not toward Yi Do, but toward Kang So-eo.

Yi Do moved as well.

Shin Gong-baek had clearly moved first, yet Yi Do overtook Shin Gong-baek in an instant.

Great Kunlun’s movement art, Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning, was that extraordinary. Yi Do swung his sword.

The sword, filled with Properly Aligned Qi, took the form of a dragon.

Shin Gong-baek swung the sword as well. Massive waves of inner energy burst from it like a crashing waterfall.

Boom-!!

Yi Do took two steps back, while Shin Gong-baek took one.

Yi Do’s eyes remained fixed on Shin Gong-baek.

Even if he drew upon Properly Aligned Qi, it was only natural that he would be at a slight disadvantage against a Three Flowers Gather at the Crown master who used a true dantian.

If Yi Do used his true dantian, the power of the Properly Aligned Qi amplified by the Hwandap Art would rise exponentially and overwhelm Shin Gong-baek. But not now.

Still, he did not think he would lose.

Yi Do immediately kicked off the ground.

Rumble-!!

Thunder energy infused the Properly Aligned Qi pouring from the two rings. He brought his sword down from above.

[Heaven-Transcending Thunder Sword Formula]

Shin Gong-baek took a defensive stance against the deafening thunder.

Boom-!!

With a tremendous crash, Shin Gong-baek’s sword broke cleanly in half.

It was not just the sword. The force behind the strike itself had been immense.

How was that possible?

Still on the ground, Shin Gong-baek hurriedly rolled to the side.

Yi Do’s sword came down again where Shin Gong-baek had been a moment before.

Rumble.

The ground split apart with a crack.

Yi Do turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Shin Gong-baek pushed off the ground and slid backward.

Slash!

A sharp pain pricked the front of Shin Gong-baek’s neck. Yi Do’s sword had just left a small cut there.

Had Shin Gong-baek been even slightly slower, Shin Gong-baek’s neck would have been split in two.

It was astonishing.

Yi Do was clearly a newcomer to the martial world, but the judgment he displayed in battle was like that of an old master with a wealth of experience.

That was as far as it went.

Shin Gong-baek clenched a fist tightly.

The bastard would die here today. That fact would not change.

Shin Gong-baek kicked off the ground.

Shin Gong-baek was one of only forty Probationary Hundred-Household Commanders in the entire Jeok Nation, a junior sixth-rank post.

Shin Gong-baek had not held the position for long, but had naturally learned martial arts upon rising to it.

There were two of them. One was footwork, and the other was a fist art.

Yellow Dragon Steps and Yellow Dragon Fist Art.

The two martial arts were linked. The practitioner planted their feet with the unyielding weight of a yellow dragon, then unleashed a powerful punch all at once, as if the dragon itself were taking flight. It was a simple art, yet its power and intricacy were more exquisite than expected, often catching opponents even when they knew it was coming.

If one tried to block it with a sword, the sword would break. If one tried to block it with a shield, the shield would break. If one tried to meet it with a fist, that fist would break.

It was a martial art that detonated condensed inner energy in a single explosive burst, and its might had already been proven in countless places.

That was what Shin Gong-baek intended to use now.

Shin Gong-baek’s feet churned the ground. The image of a yellow dragon rose behind Shin Gong-baek.

Yi Do remained still. He did not make a single move, only watched in silence.

As Shin Gong-baek’s fist shot forward, the image of the yellow dragon lunged with it.

Shin Gong-baek was certain.

This attack would surely blow apart the head of that damned Yi Do.

But then...

The result that followed left Shin Gong-baek dazed.

Paaang-!!

The fist had shot forward.

Yet it was caught effortlessly in Yi Do’s left hand. The shockwaves bursting in every direction were all Shin Gong-baek’s internal energy.

Shin Gong-baek could not understand it.

How had Yi Do caught it?

No, catching it was one thing, but why had Shin Gong-baek’s internal energy collapsed?

“Yellow Dragon Fist Art. It has been a long time since I last saw it.”

“...What?”

“That fist art only displays its true power when the final step of Yellow Dragon Steps aligns with the direction of the punch. That is a great strength, but also a weakness. Look at your feet.”

Without thinking, Shin Gong-baek looked down.

Shin Gong-baek’s foot had twisted sideways.

Yi Do.

Yi Do had changed the direction of Shin Gong-baek’s foot with his own.

Shin Gong-baek had not noticed.

So Yi Do had not been standing still?

In that fleeting instant, Yi Do had interfered with Shin Gong-baek’s footing like this?

Even an old master with vast experience could not have done that much. Shin Gong-baek’s mind went blank.

Rumble-!

Slash-!!

Thunder roared alongside the slicing sound of a blade.

Then overwhelming pain rang through Shin Gong-baek’s mind.

From Shin Gong-baek’s right shoulder to the lower left abdomen.

That was the path of Yi Do’s slash.

Sliiide.

With a chilling sound, Shin Gong-baek’s body began to separate into two pieces.

Shin Gong-baek collapsed onto the ground.

It was cold.

Yi Do looked down at Shin Gong-baek and spoke.

“Do not worry. I will send the others after you soon enough.”

The tip of Yi Do’s sword pointed at Shin Gong-baek’s face.

Then...

Squelch-!

Every Embroidered Uniform Guard who had pursued Yi Do died that day.

Footnotes:

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