Memoir of a Regressor - Chapter 41

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 41: Black Wind Sword Venerable, Dokgo Dan-ya

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Watching from afar, the Assassin Fortress’s Deputy Fortress Lord, Withered Tree Divine Lord, let out an involuntary gasp. His reaction was much like Ju Cheon-ui’s.

Perhaps they had made an enemy of someone they should never have crossed.

How could this make any sense?

He had rated Yi Do’s martial prowess at no more than Five Dragons Honoring the Sage, but now he seemed to have reached Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.

This was absurd.

It defied common sense. Yi Do could not have consumed anything besides a single Five-Hundred-Year Ginseng. Could eating just one of those make someone reach Three Flowers Gather at the Crown?

There were more than several hundred masters at the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown or Five Qis Return to Origin level in this vast martial world, but none had ever shown such overwhelming growth.

And on top of that, such methods and decisiveness.

Was this a dream?

Withered Tree Divine Lord reached a slightly different conclusion from Ju Cheon-ui.

There might never be another chance.

Now.

That bastard had to die now.

Otherwise, the Assassin Fortress would be destroyed.

Of all the assassins dispatched to Yeonsu Town, sixty had already died, excluding those at the guesthouse.

Out of roughly one hundred and thirty, nearly half were dead. Even now, they were still dying.

This could not continue.

It was time to act.

Just as he reached for the dagger at his waist...

“Heh heh heh heh heh.”

Every hair on his body stood on end.

The instant he turned his head, shock seized him.

Why was this man here?

“F-Flying Dragon Great Hero...?”

“Isn’t he truly impressive?”

“...Why are you here...?”

“What did you think of my ‘disciple’s’ skill?”

“...Excuse me? Your dis...ciple?”

“That’s right. My disciple.”

An alarm rang in his mind.

Wait.

Yi Do was Flying Dragon Great Hero Myo Man-ri’s disciple?

Then things could not be this simple.

“...Is he truly your disciple?”

“Not yet, but he will be soon, so you may as well consider him one.”

What kind of nonsense was that?

“So it has not been decided yet.”

“Heh heh heh. That’s right. Still... if I help him here, perhaps he’ll feel at least a little inclined to take me as his master.”

“...”

“Oh, and I should have said this first. If you draw that dagger now, your head will burst. Understand?”

Withered Tree Divine Lord swallowed hard.

“What will you do? Die here, or take the assassins who are still alive and return to the Assassin Fortress?”

That changed things.

“...But debts and grudges cannot be settled like this.”

“Now, now. How dare you speak to me of debts and grudges?”

Myo Man-ri grinned.

“Do you want the Assassin Fortress to shut its doors today?”

Withered Tree Divine Lord flinched.

This man was more than capable of doing it.

In the end, he gave the order.

“Stop! Stop fighting!”

The assassins stopped.

Myo Man-ri began walking, and Withered Tree Divine Lord moved as well. The two men approached Yi Do.

“It’s been a while. You bastard, you’ve really been raising hell.”

“That is what happened. But why are you with him?”

“With him? You fool, I just saved your life. Don’t you feel something like respect welling up in your heart?”

Yi Do’s gaze was cold.

More precisely, his eyes were fixed not on Myo Man-ri, but on Withered Tree Divine Lord.

“Jang Min, Deputy Fortress Lord of the Assassin Fortress?”

“...You insolent little bastard. I have been in the martial world far longer than you. Is that any way to speak?”

“Senior? You have a talent for making people laugh. A nobody like you?”

“...If Flying Dragon Great Hero had not been here, I would have killed you where you stood.”

Myo Man-ri casually cut in.

“Now you can keep the promise you made. Let’s go to the Asura Sword Sect.”

“When did I make any promise?”

“Now, now, brat. I decided to think of it that way. Isn’t that enough?”

Yi Do did not answer. He only continued glaring at Withered Tree Divine Lord, who did not look away either.

“You do not wish to go?”

Without taking his eyes off Withered Tree Divine Lord, Yi Do spoke.

“What would be good about going?”

“What would be good? Everything would be. Back in Jangnyeong County, it was obvious you had been carrying out a plan to bring the entire county beneath your feet. But that is no longer the case. Jangnyeong County has been reduced to ruins, and you have nowhere left to go. The Asura Sword Sect would make an excellent backing for you.”

When Yi Do still did not answer, Myo Man-ri let out a dry laugh.

“I truly like you in so many ways. Fine, if a simple backing is not enough, how about this? I will provide you with a place to train.”

“A place to train?”

“That is not all. If you do things that enhance the Asura Sword Sect’s honor, the sect will supply you with training resources. There are ordinary elixir pills that aid the absorption of internal energy, as well as spiritual medicines infused with spiritual energy. At the very least, you will be able to train in comfort without anyone getting in your way. What do you say?”

That was not a bad offer.

“Now you have my interest. But can you handle it?”

“Handle it? Heh heh heh heh. Do you think the Asura Sword Sect is like the Yi family of Jangnyeong County?”

Yi Do spoke quietly.

“First, there are a few things I wish to say.”

“Fine, go ahead.”

“The debts and grudges between the Assassin Fortress and me are not something you can settle for me, Myo Man-ri.”

“How can that be?”

“It is simple. They may have started it, but only I can decide whether it ends or not.”

“Hmm... Then that means...”

Myo Man-ri could not finish.

Hwandap Art.

The three rings surrounding Yi Do’s dantian spun madly.

The Properly Aligned Qi he had conserved while killing the assassins.

He poured all of it in.

An immense amount of Properly Aligned Qi surged from Yi Do’s body. It was enough to push him into overload.

It flowed first into his legs. His leg muscles swelled, filling at once with amplified Properly Aligned Qi.

Yi Do kicked off the ground.

It was Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning at full force.

Even Myo Man-ri lost track of Yi Do’s movement for an instant. If even he did, what chance did Withered Tree Divine Lord have?

Besides, standing beside Myo Man-ri had made him lower his guard. He had never even imagined Yi Do would attack. Still, that was only an excuse.

Withered Tree Divine Lord realized it too late, his eyes widening in shock. A shadow fell before his face.

It was Yi Do’s fist.

For a brief moment, red blood qi swirled in Yi Do’s eyes.

It was only natural.

KABOOOOOM-!!!

With a tremendous roar, Withered Tree Divine Lord’s head exploded.

Thud.

Yi Do stomped on the heart in Withered Tree Divine Lord’s headless corpse.

CRUNCH-!

It burst beneath his foot.

He would destroy the Assassin Fortress.

Reconciliation? Not a chance.

Either Yi Do would die, or the Assassin Fortress would be destroyed.

Under heaven, only one of those outcomes would exist.

Yi Do turned his head.

He spoke to Myo Man-ri, who was blinking.

“Can you handle it?”

“...Huh?”

“I have no intention of scraping along at the bottom. If I go to the Asura Sword Sect, the Asura Sword Sect itself may end up kneeling beneath my feet. Can you truly handle that?”

The corners of Myo Man-ri’s mouth slowly rose.

“...Heh... Heh heh heh heh heh heh.”

Myo Man-ri burst into wild laughter.

* * *

Myo Man-ri immediately understood the meaning of Yi Do’s actions.

There was no need to make it complicated.

It was just as Yi Do had said.

Whether the enemy or Yi Do himself had started it, Yi Do alone would decide how it ended.

The debts and grudges with the Assassin Fortress.

Who had brought assassins to Yeonsu Town and made Yi Do’s life difficult?

Who had made him kill more than a hundred people, including those inside the guesthouse?

The Assassin Fortress.

No matter how one dressed it up, the Assassin Fortress and Yi Do could not coexist under the same sky.

Yi Do had merely acted.

Myo Man-ri stared blankly at Yi Do, who had blown apart the Assassin Fortress’s Deputy Fortress Lord’s head, then began laughing like a madman.

It was practically a fit of laughter.

He thumped both hands against Yi Do’s shoulders.

“This is how my disciple should be. Can I handle it? Of course I can. I’ve been searching for someone like you all this time. Yes, this is exactly it. This is the image of a true martial artist walking the Path of Hegemony. Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh. Good. Excellent. Come to the Asura Sword Sect.”

“I will go, but I will not become your disciple.”

“Heh heh heh. We will see about that.”

Then...

“Did you not say you would soon leave the Asura Sword Sect?”

“I did. But will the world always go as I wish? If I bring you back, that bastard Sect Leader will lose his mind... Do not let him win you over. You are mine.”

“Do not say such strange things. I belong to no one.”

“Heh heh heh... Yes, yes.”

No matter what Yi Do said, Myo Man-ri liked it.

Then...

“I pay my respects to my senior in the martial world.”

At the polite voice, Yi Do and Myo Man-ri turned.

About twenty men and women in blue robes stood there.

On the chest of the middle-aged man at the front were the words [Azure Dragon Corps Leader].

He was the man speaking now.

Ju Cheon-ui, Red Dragon Divine Lord and leader of the Azure Dragon Corps.

Myo Man-ri laughed when he saw him.

“Heh heh heh. It has been a long time.”

“...Yes. It has. You have not changed, Senior.”

“Of course I have not. A person should not change. One must always walk straight ahead.”

“You are right. That is why I ask, could you give us the man named Yi Do?”

At first, it might have sounded like a challenge.

It was not.

“I wish to take him into the Azure Dragon Corps of the Martial Alliance.”

“Heh heh heh. The Azure Dragon Corps... What would a dragon already in full bloom do among children at play?”

“You still exaggerate. Children? It is a gathering of the finest young rising talents renowned throughout the martial world.”

“But it is not my decision whether he goes there. The man here must decide for himself. Is that not right?”

“You are correct.”

Ju Cheon-ui walked over to Yi Do.

“It is good to meet you. I am Ju Cheon-ui, leader of the Azure Dragon Corps.”

It was truly strange.

Yi Do had never expected to see this man like this.

When he killed Ju Cheon-ui in his previous life, the man had left a strong impression. His resolve had been firm, and even in a hopeless situation, he had not turned his back and fled.

Yi Do had liked that about him, so after taking the secret manual tucked against the man’s chest, he had delivered it to the Ju family.

In the process, Yi Do had learned the Red Dragon Divine Technique. That had been his right.

“Going to the Asura Sword Sect is not a bad choice. But you know this as well. Even though it is one of the Eight Great Sects, the Asura Sword Sect cannot fully protect someone pursued by the Imperial Guards. The Martial Alliance can.”

Myo Man-ri’s brow twitched as he listened quietly. It was a clear sign of anxiety.

Yi Do asked, “Is the Martial Alliance different?”

“It is. There are a great many martial organizations under the Martial Alliance. Even the Jeok Nation’s imperial family would face an entirely different level of risk when confronting the Martial Alliance rather than a single power like the Asura Sword Sect. As I said, the Asura Sword Sect is certainly an impressive sect, but the difference between standing united and standing alone cannot be ignored.”

It was true, so Yi Do nodded.

But since when had he cared about such things?

He had already made up his mind.

The Asura Sword Sect.

He was curious about that place.

Yi Do knew why.

The sect, which wielded immense power as one of the Eight Great Sects, would be destroyed in the Righteous-Demonic War ten years from now.

Myo Man-ri would be its sole survivor.

Afterward, Myo Man-ri would attack the imperial palace, and the events everyone knew about would unfold.

I had no desire to stop it. I’m no chivalrous hero, so why go out of my way to stop it?

I was simply curious.

“I appreciate your words, but I owe Myo Man-ri a small debt. As a martial artist, how could I ignore debts and grudges?”

“Hmm...”

“And perhaps you do not know this.”

Yi Do raised his sword and cut through the air.

Rumble.

With the sound of thunder, five bolts of lightning struck the ground.

“When we were in Jangnyeong County, Myo Man-ri taught me a martial art. Now he has aided me in this situation. How could I turn my back on him?”

Ju Cheon-ui’s expression grew complicated.

“...Hmm... What a shame. Such a shame. Can you promise me one thing?”

“Please, say it.”

“You appear to value debts and grudges, so I will deal with the ordinary martial artists pursuing you. By your reasoning, would that not make it a kind of debt between us?”

“Yes.”

“...In the future, do not become an enemy of the Martial Alliance.”

Yi Do’s brow twitched slightly.

“I know your methods are excessive, but for my sake, when that time comes, you need not do much. Just once. Give us just one chance. Can you do that?”

Among martial artists, some occasionally possessed exceptionally sharp instincts.

Ju Cheon-ui was the same.

Yi Do might not walk the Demonic Way, but his methods were excessive.

Such people drew a clear line between allies and enemies.

Since Yi Do valued debts and grudges, Ju Cheon-ui wanted to prepare in advance.

Yi Do nodded.

“Yes. I will.”

“Thank you. I pray that your path ahead will be bright.”

With that, Ju Cheon-ui led the Martial Alliance’s martial artists out of Yeonsu Town.

Myo Man-ri, standing beside Yi Do, grinned.

“You wavered, did you not?”

“Not at all.”

“That cannot be. You did not waver before the Martial Alliance?”

“No.”

Yi Do had said all along that he had made up his mind.

He turned his head.

Yi Do’s old epithet had certainly been Mad Venerable.

But he had not been the first to bear that epithet.

Before Yi Do, there had been another Mad Venerable.

Blood Heaven Mad Venerable, Myo Man-ri.

As the final survivor of the fallen Asura Sword Sect, he would reappear in the martial world ten years after the incident at the imperial palace.

A Martial World’s Public Enemy and great demonic fiend, he would provoke both the Emperor Sword Sect and the Martial Alliance, only to die in a joint attack by the Sword Emperor, Sect Leader of the Emperor Sword Sect, and the Heavenly Emperor, Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance.

He had been one of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven, a true powerhouse who had reached the Divine Transformation Realm.

“I am telling you again, do not ever become that bastard Sect Leader’s disciple.”

“Why not?”

“What do you mean, why? If you go under him, he will only spout nonsense about worshipping some strange god called Asura or something.”

That was one reason.

The martial art Yi Do had learned from his master was called [Asura Heaven-Breaking Five Arts].

It shared the same name, Asura, as the Asura Sword Sect.

Yi Do was truly curious about what connection there might be.

In his previous life, the sect had collapsed so completely that not even information remained, making it impossible to investigate.

This time would be different.

There was still time before Yi Do met his master.

“Come, let us go.”

* * *

Wisu County, Jeok Nation.

This region bordered Yan Kingdom. Put generously, it was a place that embodied the true meaning of the martial world. Put poorly, it was a lawless hell beyond all measure.

The reason was simple.

Jung-su County in Yan Kingdom, which also bordered Wisu County, was home to the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects.

On the surface, the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect professed the Orthodox Path, but in truth, it walked the Path of Hegemony like the Asura Sword Sect. Its methods were even more extreme than those of the Asura Sword Sect, to the point that people said it might as well walk the Demonic Way.

These two sects completely dominated the surrounding area. And just as two suns could not exist beneath one sky, they fought constantly.

They avoided clashes at their main sects as much as possible, but the fighting between their branches was fierce.

That was not the end of it.

The area was so lawless that the imperial families of Jeok Nation and Yan Kingdom had reached the point where they could barely intervene.

Black Wind Sword Venerable Dokgo Dan-ya, Sect Leader of the Asura Sword Sect, and Invincible Fist Emperor Gong Wi-ryang, Sect Leader of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, were practically kings of the entire region.

Dokgo Dan-ya, the Black Wind Sword Venerable and Sect Leader of the Asura Sword Sect, pressed one hand to his forehead as though he had a headache.

“Sect Leader. You must make a decision.”

The man urging him on was Chodong, one of the Asura Sword Sect’s Eight Elders. His epithet was Jade Hand Sword.

He was at the Creation Realm, a master considered formidable even among masters.

“The Great Elder has already reached a state beyond control. The Asura Sword Sect is a sect that professes the Orthodox Path while walking the Path of Hegemony.”

Standing before Dokgo Dan-ya, who still held his forehead, Chodong continued in a clear voice.

“Every time the Great Elder descends the mountain under the pretext of rescuing his disciple, another sect is destroyed. No matter that we walk the Path of Hegemony, he has gone too far. The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect of Yan Kingdom is already suspected of walking the Demonic Way. If we too come under that suspicion, no one knows what may happen in the future. Sect Leader, having Great Elder Myo Man-ri remain with the Asura Sword Sect will bring more harm than benefit.”

“And?”

“The Seven Elders request Great Elder Myo Man-ri’s dismissal.”

Dokgo Dan-ya finally sighed.

What was he supposed to do with these fools?

“Fine, that is all well and good, but answer me one question. If you dismiss the Great Elder, who will fill his place?”

“...Pardon?”

“You know he is on the verge of reaching the Divine Entry Realm. Who, exactly, will replace him?”

“...”

“Chodong, will you?”

“...That is...”

Dokgo Dan-ya looked around the room, then spoke with an expression of utter languor.

“You have grown old.”

“...”

“Why do you fear a struggle for all under heaven?”

Those words contained everything.

The Asura Sword Sect had stagnated.

Wisu County was not a small region, but they fought the same people for the same reasons every day.

Whenever they tried to expand their influence, those same people came to obstruct them.

There was no way it would not stagnate.

Chodong and the others were afraid now.

Of both internal and external threats.

Dokgo Dan-ya sighed inwardly once more.

There were no capable people.

Too many people wanted stability instead of looking higher.

There was only one man who still looked upward with him.

Myo Man-ri.

Myo Man-ri could be overly aggressive, but he and Dokgo Dan-ya were alike.

Myo Man-ri traveled in search of a disciple, while Dokgo Dan-ya traveled in search of someone worthy of inheriting the Asura Sword Sect. That was the only real difference.

“But Sect Leader, we must take this chance to dismiss the Great Elder...”

“Now, now, Chodong, you bastard. Are you causing a scene here again?”

Everyone turned toward the entrance to the Sect Leader’s Hall.

A middle-aged man wearing an exasperated expression stood there beside a handsome, expressionless young man.

Myo Man-ri and Yi Do.

Dokgo Dan-ya had already known they were coming. He silently studied Yi Do, and Yi Do did not avoid his gaze.

Slowly, interest appeared in Dokgo Dan-ya’s eyes, which had been filled with languor.

“Sect Leader, surely you have not made a decision?”

“Of course not.”

Myo Man-ri snickered and walked toward Elder Chodong.

“Good grief, what am I supposed to do with this young bastard? Hm? Why is a grown man like you so scared?”

“...Great Elder, your methods grow more excessive by the day. The Asura Sword Sect itself is on the verge of being branded as demonic. That is what I mean.”

“You fool, if we have not walked the Demonic Way, what does it matter what people outside say?”

“I am saying that we should prevent such a thing before it happens.”

“Good grief.”

Myo Man-ri lightly tapped Chodong’s head.

“This cute bastard. You were not like this in the past. Have you been aging backward?”

Chodong slapped Myo Man-ri’s hand away, but Myo Man-ri seemed to find even that adorable.

“Did you not intend to leave the Sword Sect anyway? Why not leave now?”

“That had been the plan, but you bastards have irritated me so much that I cannot leave now.”

Myo Man-ri smiled and asked Yi Do, who stood behind him.

“Hey, disciple.”

“I am not your disciple.”

“You prickly bastard. Fine, Yi Do. What would you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“These men are telling the Sect Leader that I should be dismissed. What would you do?”

“Did you do anything worthy of dismissal?”

Myo Man-ri shook his head at Yi Do’s question.

“Do you share the same purpose as that Sect Leader over there?”

Myo Man-ri turned to look at Dokgo Dan-ya. The Sect Leader was smiling.

“I think we do?”

“Then those people are future rebel forces seeking to destroy the Asura Sword Sect from within.”

“Does... that make them so?”

“Then what is there to discuss? Kill them.”

Myo Man-ri was startled by Yi Do’s emotionless words.

“They have still given their loyalty to the Asura Sword Sect.”

“Loyalty is not eternal. Of course, their circumstances can be considered. Some may have simply been swept along, so I would give them one chance. But the ringleaders must have their limbs torn apart before they die.”

“...Hmm...”

Once again, it was Myo Man-ri who swallowed a groan.

Yi Do was surprised inwardly by that reaction.

Perhaps Myo Man-ri was not quite that insane after all.

Then...

“Ha... Hahahaha.”

Dokgo Dan-ya burst into laughter.

“Great Elder.”

“What is it?”

“Did you say you brought back a disciple?”

“Can you not see?”

“From what I heard earlier, it seems he is not your disciple yet.”