Memoir of a Regressor - Chapter 62

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 62: I Missed You, Master

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Na Mu-gi, the Thousand-Mile Divine Thief.

He had not stolen for a long time, but his instincts had not dulled. With an A-frame pack on his back, he walked through the streets of Jangam County, his eyes sweeping the surroundings.

What should he do?

Yi Do had told him to steal at least one item worth no less than five hundred Gold Taels from each of thirteen clans.

It sounded simple, but it was clearly difficult.

Just what...

‘...I do not know what this theft has to do with clearing my name, but...’

He had to do it.

Even as he surveyed the area, Na Mu-gi clearly realized that Yi Do's name had spread throughout Jangam County.

It was enough to give him chills.

Whenever Yi Do's name came up, some trembled with rage while others shook in fear.

The difference was stark.

Those who did not care? There was not a single one.

Yi Do had killed many people so far, but who he had killed was what mattered.

They said he had taken the heads of four clan heads in Jangam County. He had brutally slaughtered the martial artists of the Four Qi-Cultivation Realms guarding them, and even wiped out every assassin from the Assassin Fortress.

There had been four masters of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown and more than twenty assassins, yet not one survivor remained.

Na Mu-gi found the situation somewhat amusing.

It was not because he thought people should not fear someone like Yi Do.

‘...These fools still do not understand.’

A storm of blood had already been foretold. What had they done?

They had nearly annihilated a branch of the Asura Sword Sect. And they had not merely wiped them out. They had raped the women, torn apart the men, and beheaded them.

If the Asura Sword Sect destroyed Jangam County, which was nearly twice the size of Three Phoenix County, would Yan Kingdom remain still?

Would Yan Kingdom's sects remain still?

What about the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect?

This was no different from declaring an all-out war.

Yet Yi Do did not care about such things.

Anyone could see Yi Do's ultimate goal was to utterly destroy Jangam County. Until he killed and tore apart every person involved in the annihilation of the former Three Phoenix Branch, Yi Do would not stop.

That was why the people here trembled in fear.

Because they were involved, directly or indirectly.

After making one circuit around Jangam County, Na Mu-gi let out a sigh.

That was that, and this was this. First, he would steal everything as Yi Do had instructed.

He had already formed a plan.

In Na Mu-gi's eyes, the current security was not particularly strict. But once he robbed one place and then another, it would undoubtedly become far tighter.

Then what should he do?

The answer was simple.

He would rob them all at once.

The most important part of his plan was the Jangam Branch of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect.

He had to closely watch that branch's movements.

Its Branch Leader, Pung Bi-chang, was a master of Five Qis Return to Origin. No matter how skilled the Thousand-Mile Divine Thief was at stealing, matters would become complicated if a master of Five Qis Return to Origin decided to pursue him.

Time passed.

At around three in the afternoon, every martial artist from the Jangam Branch gathered their weapons and set off somewhere. Na Mu-gi had overheard that they were headed for Three Phoenix County.

He laughed.

The most troublesome people were gone.

Now he could begin.

Entering the brush, Na Mu-gi set down his pack and changed clothes.

Then he kicked off the ground.

* * *

The branch members of the Jangam County Branch, filled with rage, arrived in Three Phoenix County.

Whether they tore Yi Do to death today or received an apology, they had to stop his actions somehow.

To be honest, they wanted to kill him immediately, but the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect was not as reckless as Yi Do.

There were people waiting to receive them.

“...They are branch members from Three Phoenix County.”

There were only two.

One was a man with long hair tightly tied behind his back. The other had shorter hair and wore a long robe carelessly.

Their contrasting appearances did not matter.

Giant Spirit Divine Fist Pung Bi-chang shouted, face reddened.

“Why have only the two of you come out?”

“Does that displease you?”

“...Yes, it does. You, what is your name?”

“I am Un Do-hyeon of the Three Phoenix Branch.”

Pung Bi-chang flinched at those words.

Un Do-hyeon.

Then a bright smile formed on Pung Bi-chang's lips.

“I see. You are the younger brother of Un Mi-rang, the former Branch Leader of the Three Phoenix Branch.”

There was not the slightest change in Un Do-hyeon's expression.

Pung Bi-chang did not like that.

“That bitch begged for her life back then... It was quite entertaining.”

“...”

“Once she was stripped naked, she was truly a sight to see. It is a pity you did not see her pleading for it to stop.”

Myeong-hyeon glanced at Un Do-hyeon.

Un Do-hyeon's expression had still not changed. Not even slightly.

It was strange enough to make Myeong-hyeon wonder.

Pung Bi-chang looked mildly surprised.

“...You are quite impressive.”

“Did you gather all these people just to say that?”

“Of course not. I came to meet your Branch Leader, Yi Do.”

Only then did Un Do-hyeon's expression change.

He snorted with laughter.

Myeong-hyeon, the man with the carelessly worn robe, spoke to the puzzled Pung Bi-chang.

“Sorry you came all this way for nothing, but our Branch Leader's away right now.”

“...Away? After making things this bad, he is away?”

Pung Bi-chang and the martial artists from Jangam County did not know it, but there was a reason for it.

Yi Do had raided the Heavenly Forest the previous night, then gone to sleep. He had risen early in the morning.

That was when a message arrived.

The finest carrier pigeon used by the Asura Sword Sect's sect leaders had arrived in less than a day.

All things in the world were impossible to predict.

Yi Do had sent a report through the Heavenly Intelligence Gate. However, the branch head of the Heavenly Intelligence Gate had used a superior carrier pigeon to curry favor with Yi Do.

The pigeon had reached the Asura Sword Sect in only twelve hours. After the main headquarters reviewed it, the matter reached the Sect Leader.

Since an Elder was involved, it could not be helped.

Dokgo Dan-ya immediately sent the finest carrier pigeon to Three Phoenix County, and that was the message that had arrived this morning.

So Yi Do made simple preparations and departed.

It was now just after one in the afternoon.

Yi Do had left at around nine in the morning, so he had been gone for quite some time.

“So what will you do now? Cause a scene?”

“...What is your name?”

“Mine? I don't think you need to know.”

“...Insolent brat. When I ask, answer.”

“Why should I? You're neither my superior nor a teacher I respect, so why should I?”

“...You... Your eyes... Ha... Hahaha... Now that I look at it, Three Phoenix County truly is a complete mess.”

At Pung Bi-chang's words, Un Do-hyeon glanced at Myeong-hyeon's eyes.

Now that he looked, Myeong-hyeon's eyes were unfocused.

The killing intent faintly leaking through them... It did not seem like demonic qi, but neither was it normal killing intent.

“It looks like you have taken some medicine. Hahaha... Fine, do not answer.”

Pung Bi-chang's mind raced furiously. Pung Bi-chang came to a conclusion in an instant.

A booming voice echoed throughout Three Phoenix County.

“Listen well, you fools of Three Phoenix County!”

“I will give you one week! If the Branch Leader of Three Phoenix County does not come to Jangam County and kneel within one week, I will stain Three Phoenix County with blood, just as he did!”

“I will tear off the heads of every sect leader in Three Phoenix County, display them, and hang them at the entrance!”

“He started this! Depending on his decision, your lives will be decided. You will either die that day or be spared! Do you understand?”

A heavy silence fell.

The one who broke it was Myeong-hyeon.

He gave a short laugh.

“Whatever you took, your voice is awfully loud.”

“...I will remember you. Try your best to clean up this mess.”

Myeong-hyeon looked unconcerned. Un Do-hyeon standing beside him was the same.

Their attitude recalled only one thing.

Trust.

They trusted Yi Do.

The silent Un Do-hyeon asked, “What do you think would have happened if our Branch Leader were here right now?”

“Nothing would change. If he had been here, the Cruel Demonic Way would have been torn limb from limb by my hands.”

At those words, Un Do-hyeon finally laughed.

“...What a pair of crazy bastards.”

Pung Bi-chang turned around. At Pung Bi-chang's command to leave, the branch members from Jangam County who had followed Pung Bi-chang began walking away together.

They were wrong.

If Yi Do had been here, every one of them would have died today.

Un Do-hyeon asked Myeong-hyeon, “Did you unseal your qi channels?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Did my lord not tell you to seal them?”

“That's true, but they said they're coming. If it came down to it, we'd have to counterattack.”

“...”

“Hey, Un Do-hyeon.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think that man will cause trouble again over there?”

“That is not causing trouble.”

“Hm?”

“He is only doing what needs to be done.”

“...”

“There is nothing more to it.”

Myeong-hyeon scratched his head.

“You really are loyal.”

Un Do-hyeon had something he wanted to ask as well.

“I thought you'd run away, but I suppose you won't.”

“Why would I run? I'm not crazy.”

“Wouldn't it be easier for you if you went to the Emperor Sword Sect?”

It was certainly something few people should know, but Yi Do was exceptionally generous with his own.

Since they were now sharing the same pot, he could not keep his background hidden from them. He had told them the broad outline, as though saying they should know what they needed to know.

Myeong-hyeon did not say much about it.

He had already roughly grasped what kind of person Yi Do was.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“I am doing this to get away from the Emperor Sword Sect.”

“I understand.”

More importantly...

“Should we not clean things up here?”

Both of them understood the mood in Three Phoenix County.

Pung Bi-chang had come up with a fairly clever move.

What would the people of Three Phoenix County think of Yi Do now?

If they came to believe they would die because of Yi Do, the entire situation would fall apart.

“Is there even anything we can do?”

Honestly, there was not.

Yi Do ruled Three Phoenix County, not the two of them.

No matter how much they drew on their standing, it would be difficult to settle this.

More than anything else...

Before leaving for the main headquarters, Yi Do had ordered them to exercise restraint.

He had told them that no matter how many branch members of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect came, they would not act aggressively, so they should only watch.

This was the result.

As Yi Do had said, they had not displayed force here.

Instead, they had used a clever tactic that could divide Three Phoenix County.

Un Do-hyeon's cold gaze swept across the surroundings.

“I think we can at least make a list.”

“A list?”

“There will be those who talk behind our backs, those who incite others, and those who are swept along. If we make a list of all of them, it will greatly help my lord when he handles this matter. I will take care of it, so seal your qi channels. Your eyes are unfocused.”

Un Do-hyeon turned around and left.

Myeong-hyeon snorted.

Prickly bastard.

* * *

I continued onward.

Normally, I would have ignored it, but a message I could not ignore had arrived.

It was an order sent directly by the Sect Leader of the Asura Sword Sect.

I was told there was something I needed to hear, so I could not refuse to go.

I had to get there as quickly as possible.

There was still the matter I had set in motion in Three Phoenix County, and it was ongoing. I could not be away for long.

I estimated that it would take two days in total.

Not for the journey there, but for the round trip.

I continued to race onward.

North of Three Phoenix County lay Wolgang County. Wolgang County had Wolgang Mountain, named after the region. To reach Wisu County, where the Asura Sword Sect's main headquarters was located, I had to pass through it.

As soon as I entered Wolgang Mountain, I continued running.

Then...

I suddenly stopped in the mountains.

My senses spread wide.

And they cried out to me.

Someone.

Was there.

Slowly, I placed my hand on the hilt of the Cloud Dragon Sword. Just as I was about to draw it...

My nose reacted.

A scent.

I lowered my hand.

I had missed it.