WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

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◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 6: Cheonhwa Pavilion

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Lady Sang was the first to react.

"You lunatic! Do you have any idea what you've just done? You uneducated brute, how could you kill the Grand Steward? You idiot..."

"You."

I was not the one who cut Lady Sang off.

It was Yi Se-geuk, the Clan Head.

He was just as startled, though for an entirely different reason.

"...Have you... reached the Circulation Realm?"

"Yes. I reached it thanks to that box of medicinal pills. If Chief Steward Jeong had stolen it and run away, I might have remained in the Qi Entry Realm for quite some time."

Yi Se-geuk sprang to his feet.

Then he sat back down.

It was a little ridiculous.

This was the first time I had ever seen the Clan Head like that. I was not the only one. No one else had, either.

"How could you reach the Circulation Realm at only seventeen? This is surely a blessing for the Yi Clan. I have misjudged you all this time."

I did not bother answering.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Perhaps Lady Sang disliked seeing the Clan Head grin to himself, because she immediately jumped in.

"My lord, he just killed the Grand Steward. How can you smile when he was so brutal? He will surely become a demonic fiend in the future. He must be punished."

Quite a few people agreed with Lady Sang.

At a glance, there were the four old fossils tucked away in that corner, the seven chief stewards present, and even Lady Yun.

In other words, everyone but the Clan Head and me.

Yi Se-geuk's face instantly turned cold.

"Did you not hear what the youngest just said?"

"...Pardon?"

"I have been too occupied with the affairs of the Martial Alliance and the clan to pay attention, but this is truly a spectacle. How has our clan's hierarchy fallen so low?"

"What do you mean..."

"You dare raise your voice before the Clan Head, so is it any wonder those beneath you cannot tell right from wrong!"

Lady Sang sharply sucked in a breath.

"His actions were excessive? Have you ever gone out into the martial world and lived as a martial artist? That was not excessive. It was decisive. More than that, this incident has made me see everyone here in a new light."

The Clan Head's eyes swept across the room.

"To think the only people in this clan with their heads on straight are the youngest and the second child. How could a chief steward dare covet the belongings of Yi Clan blood? The Grand Steward should have borne responsibility for Chief Steward Jeong's conduct, and he has properly paid for it. You say we should punish the youngest, who cut away the clan's rot, instead of rewarding him? What kind of law is that? Have you all gone mad?"

I kept my face blank, but I wanted to laugh.

Seriously, this was the first time I had seen the Clan Head act like this.

Then again, I was seventeen now, and very few people reached the Circulation Realm at this age.

The Circulation Realm was where one took the first step as a true martial artist. A martial artist who had reached the Circulation Realm could serve as the deputy commander of a strike unit in another clan.

Of course, that only applied to small and medium-sized clans. At a major sect, they would be roughly comparable to a second-generation disciple.

That was still no insignificant realm.

What mattered, though, was how long I had actually trained in martial arts at this point.

I had entered the martial path at ten.

Marrow Cleansing? A bastard son could not even dream of such a thing. Nor had I received any proper support in the form of elixir pills or spiritual medicine.

I had started martial arts at ten, but I had only begun receiving proper instruction around the age of fifteen.

In other words, everyone saw me as a martial arts genius who had reached the Circulation Realm in only two years.

The hearing meant to punish me had turned into something else.

"Forgive this worthless father for failing to care for you until now."

"It's all right. People can get that way when they're busy, can't they?"

"Yes, thank you for saying so. Still, I cannot help but feel sorry. Tell me whatever you want."

Naturally, no one around us tried to stop him.

No matter what anyone said, the true master of the Yi Clan was Yi Se-geuk.

His word was law, and the path he chose was order.

Something I wanted.

There was exactly one thing.

"I need spiritual medicine."

"Spiritual medicine?"

"Yes. Not elixir pills obtainable from an apothecary. I mean genuine spiritual medicine."

"I will see what I can find. Is there a particular medicine you want?"

There was.

"I need hundred-year ginseng. Top-grade hundred-year ginseng that has not deteriorated."

Yi Se-geuk flinched.

Hundred-year ginseng was by no means cheap. It was almost funny. He had told me to ask for what I wanted, so I named something relatively realistic, yet he reacted like that.

"...I believe hundred-year ginseng costs around three thousand Silver Tael... Very well. I will try to obtain it."

"Thank you."

I thought that would be the end of it, but it was not.

It seemed our Clan Head still had something to say.

"Come to think of it, you have only accompanied trading caravans until now. I do not believe you have ever directly handled any of the clan's affairs."

It would have been stranger if I had.

How could someone with nothing have done anything against the backing of Lady Sang and Lady Yun?

"From now on, you will take part in the clan's affairs as well."

That was when Lady Yun spoke up as though she had been waiting for this exact moment.

"My lord, then why not entrust that matter to him?"

"That matter?"

"Yes."

"...Surely you do not mean Cheonhwa Pavilion?"

"Yes, my lord. Including interest, the money they have not repaid has already reached nine thousand taels of silver. They show no intention of repaying it at all, so why not let the youngest handle this matter?"

I stayed quiet.

After thinking for a moment, Yi Se-geuk asked me, "Will you do it?"

Hmm.

"Then could you obtain one more hundred-year ginseng for me?"

"...Very well. If you resolve this matter properly, I will grant you another hundred-year ginseng, along with a good sword. So do your best..."

Lady Sang, who had been listening as quietly as possible with a flushed face, suddenly shouted.

"My lord! One is already too much, so how can you give him another? And a sword as well? This is unacceptable. You are the Clan Head of the Yi Clan. You have given an order, yet he dares demand compensation. This truly is unacceptable."

It did not matter.

"Madam, the Clan Head is speaking in the Clan Head's Hall. How dare you interrupt him?"

"...But..."

"You have interrupted me not once, but twice. Do I seem that laughable to you?"

"That isn't it..."

"Then that is a relief, but interrupt me once more and you had best be prepared. I have made my decision, so save your complaints and raise them later. That is, if you are confident you can persuade me."

Lady Sang sat back down. Resentment was plain on her face, but I did not care.

And however good this so-called good sword could possibly be, I intended to accept it if he gave it to me.

"Understood. Then I will give it a try."

Then something occurred to me.

"Clan Head, may I ask you something?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"Must I collect those nine thousand taels in money?"

The Clan Head answered without hesitation.

"If it possesses equivalent value, that will be sufficient."

"Understood. It will not take long. I will go at once."

I turned around.

As I started to leave, the Clan Head asked, "Surely you do not intend to go alone?"

I answered proudly.

"Yes."

"...Very well. Go."

The Clan Head had clearly said it.

It did not necessarily have to be money.

And so, I headed for Cheonhwa Pavilion in the heart of Jangnyeong County.

* * *

Jangnyeong County was certainly not a small place.

Many merchants passed through it, and it was home to all kinds of martial sects.

Its nightlife was especially lively.

There were exactly four pleasure houses that defined those night streets, and Cheonhwa Pavilion stood above them all.

Even Cheonhwa Pavilion's chef was no ordinary person.

The former assistant head chef of the Jeok imperial court was responsible for all its food, and many people wondered why.

Why had a chef from the imperial court of the Jeok Nation come down to a backwater like Jangnyeong County?

With that kind of career, he could have aimed for a higher position in the imperial court of the Jeok Nation. Even if not, he could have joined some famed, prestigious establishment near the capital. Yet he had abandoned all of that and come to Jangnyeong County.

The reason was obvious.

He was originally from Jangnyeong County.

It was only natural that he chose the place in Jangnyeong County that paid the most.

Still, Cheonhwa Pavilion did not become the best simply because its food was delicious.

The quality of its courtesans was so outstanding that no nearby establishment could compare.

People came from all across the country just to see a woman named Yunhwa, called the greatest beauty of Jangnyeong.

But the sun was high in the sky now.

There was not a courtesan in sight. They had all gone to sleep.

No food was sold at this hour, either.

Preparation time.

That was the perfect term for it.

Yi Do entered the nearly deserted Cheonhwa Pavilion.

An attendant who had been cleaning approached him.

"What brings you here? We are still preparing to open..."

"Is the proprietor inside?"

"The proprietor...?"

"Yes, the proprietor. The name was... Jeok Gae-san? I only heard it in passing, so I do not remember clearly. Is that right?"

"Yes, that is indeed the name of our Cheonhwa Pavilion's proprietor. Do you have an appointment with the proprietor?"

"No."

"...Then whom should I announce?"

Yi Do smiled faintly.

"Tell the proprietor someone from the Yi Clan has come."

"...Yes, understood."

Just as the attendant was about to head upstairs, a man emerged from the kitchen and spoke.

"Stop. There is no need to go."

His voice was deep.

The attendant looked troubled.

"Ah, Deputy Owner."

That was right. This man was Cheonhwa Pavilion's Deputy Owner, Cheong Heon.

He walked toward Yi Do.

He was enormous. Yi Do was tall himself, standing six feet, but this man was larger.

He stood a full head taller than Yi Do.

"So you're from the Yi Clan?"

"Yes. I do not need to explain why I am here, do I?"

"Well, I think you should explain it. I have no idea why someone from the Yi Clan would come here."

Yi Do raised his head and met Cheong Heon's eyes.

"You don't know?"

Cheong Heon's brow twitched.

"You truly don't know?"

"...Don't know."

"Fine. Ignorance is not a crime, so I will explain it to you myself. The principal you borrowed from the Yi Clan is 7,840 taels of silver. The interest is 948 taels. That makes 8,788 taels in total. I have come to collect every last tael. And if you address me disrespectfully one more time, I will rip out your throat and kill you right here, so watch your tongue."

Normally, Cheong Heon would have laughed at what Yi Do had just said.

This time, he could not.

There was this strange feeling.

Yi Do's bearing.

And the killing intent that made his entire body prickle.

Cheong Heon forced a smile.

"...Ha ha. It seems the third young master of the Yi Clan was quite displeased with my manner of speech. Though it is late, I apologize."

"I accept. Now let us get straight to the point."

"...Very well. It seems you have finally begun handling the clan's affairs, and I am truly sorry that your first task will end in failure."

"Sorry?"

"Yes. Naturally, we want to repay the money we borrowed from the Yi Clan. But Cheonhwa Pavilion's circumstances are... not as good as they may appear. We will try our best to gather the money, so please leave for now."

"I do not care. Bring me 8,788 taels."

"...Young Master, how can you say that? We are not saying we will not repay the money. We only ask for a little more time. As you know, the economy has not been good lately. There are the courtesans' wages, the food ingredients, and all the expenses that have increased beyond what we used to pay. These days... things are difficult."

Everyone knew Cheonhwa Pavilion vacuumed up the money in Jangnyeong County. Cheong Heon gave that absurd excuse without even batting an eye, but only then did he realize Yi Do's presence had grown heavy.

Yi Do spoke.

"I came to collect money. Why would I need to know all that?"

"..."

"Then let me make you an offer."

"...Please, go on."

"Either bring all 8,788 taels to me, or give me something of equivalent value."

Cheong Heon tilted his head.

"Equivalent... value?"

"Yes. Equivalent value."

Yi Do silently looked around.

Cheonhwa Pavilion was a five-story building.

Its location was excellent.

Business? It did more than well enough.

No one believed this nonsense about difficult times.

It was a very fine building.

Fine enough that he wanted it.

"Cheonhwa Pavilion. That should be of equivalent value."

"...What?"

"I am saying I will take Cheonhwa Pavilion."

"...Have you lost your mind?"

"Do I look insane?"

"If you are not insane, why are you saying such nonsense? I never thought the Yi Clan would act like a gang of thugs. You are now..."

"What did I say earlier?"

"...What?"

"I said I would rip out your throat and kill you if you addressed me disrespectfully one more time. Don't you remember?"

Cheong Heon tried to say something, but he was too late.

He had been given several chances.

Yi Do's outstretched left hand seized Cheong Heon by the throat.

His grip tightened.

Then he tore it out.

"Ghk."

Blood exploded in every direction. Clutching at the ruin of his neck, where only the neckbone showed, Cheong Heon collapsed where he stood.

His eyes met Yi Do's as Yi Do silently looked down at him.

A shadow fell across Cheong Heon's face.

It was Yi Do's foot.

Crunch-!!

Cheong Heon's face was crushed beneath it.

The corpse that flopped to the floor no longer mattered.

Yi Do turned his gaze toward the attendant, who sat frozen on the ground with a blank expression.

"What are you doing?"

"Y-Yes...?"

"Go get the proprietor."

Footnotes:

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