Memoir of a Regressor - Chapter 56

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 56: Call Me Lord

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I looked at the man wearing a peculiar smile.

“I am Yi Do, the Great Elder’s direct Protector.”

“Ha ha. Please speak freely. I may have served as a Protector longer, but there is a difference in standing between Elder Neung-don and the Great Elder. Make yourself comfortable.”

“This is comfortable for me.”

“I see. In any case, I have heard much of your reputation. Above all, the events here in Three Phoenix County have spread throughout the main headquarters and caused quite a stir...”

Yi Maeng-rip trailed off as he looked at the items piled in the corner.

“What are those?”

“Nothing important.”

“Nothing important...? There is quite a lot for that. Silk, elixir pills, even martial weapons. That spear appears to be of considerable quality, judging by its sharp edge. That sword is not a famous blade, but it is quite usable. And those robes over there, are they not clothing from the Yan Kingdom?”

“You certainly seem to have many questions.”

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Un Do-hyeon quietly moved beside me and placed a hand on his sword hilt.

Yi Maeng-rip looked at Un Do-hyeon for a moment, then smiled.

“If I have offended you, I apologize. First, let me explain why I came here.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, the report our Branch Leader submitted has caused quite a commotion in the sect.”

“A commotion?”

“Indeed. There were also some points that did not quite add up, but setting those aside...”

My brow twitched.

“Points that did not quite add up?”

Perhaps displeased that I had interrupted him, Yi Maeng-rip furrowed his brow slightly. Soon, he smiled again.

“...Yes. Above all, the two corpses hanging outside belong to branch members of the Asura Sword Sect.”

I remained silent.

“You must know that there are already too few branch members, to the point that the Asura Pavilion Master deliberately avoids assigning missions. Yet rather than replenishing the ranks, you have reduced their number even further. Some elders have wondered whether this might be a scheme to use the Asura Sword Sect's backing to rule Three Phoenix County.”

I could only laugh.

“People are saying that?”

“Unfortunately, yes. The Sect Leader said he would entrust the Three Phoenix Branch tragedy entirely to you, Yi Do, but Elder Neung-don was concerned whether a proper investigation could be conducted with so few branch members. He ordered me to inform Wang Mu-tan and Jin Geon's families of their deaths, and to stop by Three Phoenix County to deliver this message.”

“So you came to offer help?”

“That is correct. I hurried here from the main headquarters, so I had planned to rest for a day. Would it be all right for me to rest here?”

“Go ahead.”

“Thank you. I will not interfere with your work, Yi Do. Just treat me as if I am not here.”

Treat him as if he was not here...

What a strange thing to say.

What Yi Maeng-rip said next was just as strange.

“By the way, when do you plan to send these items to the main headquarters?”

One unexpected piece of bullshit after another came out of his mouth, and laughter kept slipping out of me.

“Do I need to send these to the main headquarters?”

“Normally, you should. Surely a martial artist belonging to the Asura Sword Sect is not trying to satisfy personal greed. Above all, I understand that the two martial artists at the entrance died because they neglected their duties and pursued personal gain. Should the same thing happen again?”

“I think you have the reason wrong.”

“I do?”

“Wang Mu-tan and Jin Geon died because they conspired with the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect and killed branch members from their own branch. They did not simply kill them. They raped and murdered them. They were not even enemies, but members of the same branch. Should I have let them live?”

“I am sorry, but that differs from the report I read. I was told it was only a matter of personal greed. The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect was involved? Do you have proof?”

“I thought you told me to treat you as if you were not here. You seem excessively involved.”

“Ha ha ha ha. Do not worry. Just treat me as if I am not here. Would anything change because someone who is not here said a few words? Pay it no mind. Ha ha ha.”

It was amusing. His intentions were so obvious that they were interesting.

I was curious how far he would go.

Yi Maeng-rip, who had been about to speak again, turned his head.

“Hmm... It seems we have guests.”

I felt them too. A fairly loud sound had come from outside, as though something was being moved.

Yi Maeng-rip went out first. Un Do-hyeon and I followed.

Hong Chik-seo, the Hong Clan Head, was there with his second son, Hong Ja-myeong, who had now become the Young Clan Head.

The moment Hong Chik-seo spotted me, he performed a cupped-fist salute.

“Branch Leader. Have you been well?”

After acknowledging the greeting, I immediately asked,

“What is it?”

“It is nothing major. You avenged our merchant caravan. This is a small gift from us to you, Branch Leader.”

I turned my gaze.

There were enough valuables to fill five carts. There was not even a covering over them, as if they wanted me to inspect everything freely.

Martial weapons, cultivation resources, several ginseng roots said to be good for one's health, clothes, and undergarments.

“I appreciate the gift, but not everything is over. This is only the beginning. Are you already letting your guard down?”

Hong Chik-seo waved his hands.

“No. Absolutely not. But... we wanted to convey how we feel, at least.”

“I understand how you feel. You do not need to show your sincerity this way.”

Hong Chik-seo looked at me with a moved expression.

“I will accept what you have brought. Do not lower your guard.”

“Of course. We only wished to show our sincerity. Then we will take our leave.”

“Travel safely.”

“Yes.”

The Hong father and son left with smiles on their faces, taking the laborers with them.

It was just us again.

Yi Maeng-rip smiled.

“Of course, I trust that you will send these valuables to the main headquarters as well.”

“Why should I send these too?”

“...Are you asking because you truly do not know?”

“I am asking because I do not know.”

“Ha ha... Listen, Branch Leader. No matter what you have done, the reward you receive will ultimately be decided at the Asura Sword Sect's main headquarters. First, these items must be turned over to the headquarters warehouse. They will distribute them as they see fit and give you a certain share, so it would be wise not to be greedy.”

“Is that the law of the Asura Sword Sect?”

“Hmm... Rather than a law, it would be more accurate to call it a custom.”

It was absurd. I had never heard of such a thing.

“However... there is one way.”

“A way?”

“Why not send them to Elder Neung-don? Surely you know that the current Pavilion Lord of the Financial Administration Pavilion rose to the position on Elder Neung-don's recommendation. If you send them to Elder Neung-don, he will think favorably of you. Then he will distribute a considerably greater amount than usual.”

His intention was too transparent.

What I intended to do would strike at Neung-don's sore spot.

If I sent these valuables to Neung-don, it would be interpreted as an offer of reconciliation.

In other words, Yi Maeng-rip was telling me to join hands with Neung-don and bury this matter here.

I had listened because I was curious how far he would go, only for it to end like this.

There was a high chance he used similar methods when winning martial artists within the sect to his side.

It was almost cute.

When I did not answer, Un Do-hyeon, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward.

“I have listened long enough. Is this not too much?”

Yi Maeng-rip's expression turned cold in an instant.

“...So there is a worm in the Three Phoenix Branch that does not know its place. How dare a mere branch member interrupt a conversation between Protectors!”

Yi Maeng-rip shouted and even released killing intent, but Un Do-hyeon did not so much as blink.

I felt somewhat sorry for Yi Maeng-rip, but Un Do-hyeon had felt the killing intent I released around him almost constantly. Compared to that, this was child's play.

Un Do-hyeon stepped forward.

“Everything here, as well as the valuables in the basement below, was given to our Branch Leader by the people of Three Phoenix County. There is no reason to send them to the Asura Sword Sect's main headquarters. Even if they were sent, it would only be possible if our Branch Leader chose to do so. I do not think it is right for you to come here and pressure us like this.”

“Not right? How dare a mere branch member...”

Yi Maeng-rip moved. He walked past me and stopped before Un Do-hyeon, glaring down at him.

“Say that again.”

Un Do-hyeon opened his mouth.

“Whether everything here is sent to the main headquarters or not is entirely...”

Smack!

Un Do-hyeon's head snapped to the side. A vivid red handprint appeared on his face.

“Again.”

Un Do-hyeon raised his head.

“None of the things here are for the main headquarters to interfere with...”

Smack!

Un Do-hyeon dropped to one knee. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He rose again and glared at Yi Maeng-rip with murderous eyes.

“Shall I say it again?”

“...Your spirit is admirable, but your arrogance has gone too far. Very well. Let us continue. Say it again.”

There was something that needed to be made clear.

Un Do-hyeon was indeed a branch member of the Asura Sword Sect's Three Phoenix Branch.

But was he loyal to the Asura Sword Sect?

Not at all.

Being a branch member had nothing to do with loyalty to the sect.

Un Do-hyeon had no favorable feelings toward the Asura Sword Sect.

It might not have reached hatred, but it was close to disgust. The one he was loyal to was not the Asura Sword Sect, but me.

That was also why he had interrupted the conversation between Yi Maeng-rip and me.

“Our Branch Leader has walked a harsh path, enough to earn the epithet Cruel Demonic Blade, yet you have done a damned poor job handling those under you. What can be done? As your senior Protector, I will show you how one manages subordinates.”

It was just as he was about to reach out his hand.

I had wanted to keep watching, but this was enough.

Un Do-hyeon's resolve, his spirit, and how deeply he trusted me.

I was now certain of all of it.

That was enough.

It happened in an instant.

Slice!

With the sound of something being cut, Yi Maeng-rip's raised hand fell to the ground.

He wore a blank expression. His realm was Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. It was not low, but the distance between us was too short.

And his back had been turned to me.

Was there anything left to say?

I spun and swung my leg. My heel struck the side of Yi Maeng-rip's head.

Booooom!!

“Urgh!”

I shifted the Cloud Dragon Sword into a reverse grip.

Then I drove it forcefully into Yi Maeng-rip's lower back as he lay pathetically embedded in the ground.

Stab!

Baaang!!

“Guh... guhh...”

A violent gale swept in every direction.

That was only right.

A master at the level of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown had just had his dantian destroyed. The qi contained within it burst in every direction. I would have been disappointed if a gale had not followed.

I released the sword hilt and approached Un Do-hyeon, who was still on one knee.

He spoke.

“...Why... did you do that?”

I looked at him silently, then asked as though tossing the question aside.

“Were you uneasy?”

“...”

“Did you think I would accept that bastard and Neung-don's proposal?”

Un Do-hyeon shook his head firmly.

“No.”

“Then why did you interrupt?”

“...I was angry.”

“Why were you angry? Because you did not trust me, or because you were angry with yourself for failing to trust me?”

“Neither. I do not know exactly what kind of person you are, Branch Leader, but I know that you always keep a promise once you have made it. The path you have walked proves it. You will certainly avenge my sister. I could see that shallow scheme meant to shake someone like you. I knew you would not be swayed by such a scheme, but I was angry that they looked down on you enough to attempt it.”

I smiled.

“Do you know why I stood by and let you get hit?”

“...”

“You interrupted the conversation despite receiving no order to do so. No matter how much you dislike him, he is a Protector. He holds a position within the sect. If you serve me, should you not at least avoid doing something that would disgrace me?”

The foundation of a relationship between lord and servant was loyalty and protection.

The lord protected the servant's honor, and the servant was loyal to the lord's words.

Once that broke, there was no reason to call them lord and servant.

“Do you know why I stepped in when I did?”

“...I do not.”

“Because you were about to draw your sword.”

I was certain that Un Do-hyeon had been about to draw it.

“If you had drawn your sword, that bastard would have cut off your head at once.”

He squeezed his eyes shut.

“That is why I stepped in, Un Do-hyeon.”

He looked up at me.

“...Yes, Branch Leader.”