Memoir of a Regressor - Chapter 65

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Alyo

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈

Chapter 65: Treat Others as You Would Yourself

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It was not an easy question to answer.

More precisely, I was curious about his intent.

“Is it a question that requires thought?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose it would. Our Three Phoenix Branch Leader likely never intended to remain in the Asura Sword Sect for long in the first place.”

It was not that I underestimated Dokgo Dan-ya. He had even concealed his own realm. He was clearly a meticulous man.

Even so, there must have been a reason he had acted as though he had nearly abandoned the Asura Sword Sect’s affairs.

This matter was the same.

Would he use Neung-don to draw in the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect? Set a trap?

It was unclear.

He was the man who had built the sect to this extent.

There was surely another intention beyond that.

Perhaps he was not after the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, but someone else.

I did not know the details.

I had no intention of digging any deeper. He would handle it himself.

“I believe I told you before.”

“What did you say?”

“As long as I remain in the Asura Sword Sect, I will consider the sect’s interests to be my own.”

“You did.”

“I have acted according to those words. You have eyes and ears everywhere, so you know what I have done.”

Dokgo Dan-ya smiled.

“I do. You dealt with Heavenly Forest, caused trouble in Jangam County, and even threatened the Heavenly Intelligence Gate. It is remarkable. Did you write that report yourself as well?”

“One of my subordinates wrote it.”

“Your subordinate?”

“Yes.”

Dokgo Dan-ya burst into laughter. He laughed so often that I found myself thinking he was truly a cheerful man.

“Independence is all well and good, but may I offer my personal opinion?”

“I am only a Branch Leader. Why are you asking my permission?”

“Still, what must be done must be done. This is an important matter.”

I nodded, and Dokgo Dan-ya spoke.

“If, and this is only if.”

He looked directly into my eyes.

“If an enemy far too powerful for you to face with your current strength appears, what will you do?”

“A powerful enemy, you mean?”

“It would be ideal if you could fight them in a battle of life and death, but what if that is impossible?”

“I understand what you are trying to say.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. Among the powerful figures of the Martial World, few lack an organization. If I become their enemy, I will have to face their forces as well. In the end, those with power can set traps first or create a situation where many people attack me at once. From the very beginning, I would be fighting at a disadvantage.”

“At the very least, having a force equal to theirs would make things easier.”

“Yes.”

“Countless sages throughout history have proven the necessity of having a force. Whatever you wish to accomplish, many are better than one. The path you walk will inevitably gather followers.”

“Is that why you asked me about the position of Junior Sect Leader?”

“Something like that. At first, I considered making you the next Asura Pavilion Master, but you are too great a vessel for something so small. Honestly, I do not think even the position of Junior Sect Leader could contain you.”

I did not say something like, “You flatter me.”

Because it was true.

I did not pay much attention to Dokgo Dan-ya’s more relaxed manner of speaking. I found it more comfortable as well.

Dokgo Dan-ya pointed at his own chest.

“How about aiming for this position?”

“There cannot be two suns beneath one sky. If I were to aim for that position, the Sect Leader would have to be dead.”

The corner of Dokgo Dan-ya’s mouth twitched.

“...Truly, how can even the way you speak please me so much?”

“...”

“I’m not telling you to decide at once. Think it over slowly and send word later. I’ll make the preparations myself.”

“May I ask one favor before that?”

“What favor?”

“What I am doing in Three Phoenix County will surely become quite noisy from now on. I only wish to deal with the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect.”

“You want me to remove those who scheme behind your back, like Neung-don?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Don’t worry about that. As I said before, go ahead and do everything you wish to do.”

“Yes. Then I will take my leave.”

After giving a cupped-fist salute, I turned away.

Dokgo Dan-ya spoke to my back.

“The direction of the report was good as well.”

I turned around again.

“I merely wrote the truth.”

“It seems there were a few things in it that you wanted to be true.”

I smiled.

“I do not know what you mean.”

Dokgo Dan-ya smiled as well.

“No matter how I think about it, the position of Junior Sect Leader seems to suit you perfectly.”

My brow furrowed slightly.

Dokgo Dan-ya.

He knew a great deal.

His words just now, along with our earlier conversation, had convinced me. This was something I needed to address.

“Myeong-hyeon is one of my subordinates.”

“Ha ha. Even the elders over there would not have the audacity to keep Yaksha of the Emperor Sword Sect as a subordinate. You are certainly above those elders.”

Myeong-hyeon’s efforts had clearly meant something.

I would stake everything I had on this. No one in the Asura Sword Sect, other than Dokgo Dan-ya, had noticed.

Dokgo Dan-ya.

He was more interesting than I had thought.

I spoke evenly.

“He has learned Demonic arts, but the Demonic arts he learned can be controlled. Once he reaches the Creation Realm, the side effects will disappear completely.”

“Do you think the Sword Sovereign will remain still until then?”

“Well. Will we not have to wait and see?”

“It’s a considerable risk... but I’ll trust you with him. On your way out, stop by the Medical Classics Pavilion and collect thirty Asura Pills.”

“Yes.”

“You’d better hurry. I hear those fools from the Fist Sect in Jangam County have already pulled some sort of trick.”

That was how I left the Sect Leader’s Hall.

I sighed inwardly.

After stopping, I looked straight ahead.

Six men and women stood there.

I had not seen them for very long, but they were familiar.

They were the elders from the Elders’ Hall.

Excluding Neung-don, and Myo Man-ri, who had entered secluded cultivation.

The remaining six.

Among them, an elder with a resolute impression stepped forward. I watched him silently. A strange silence settled between us.

It was Elder Chodong.

“Will you not show proper respect?”

Respect.

“Am I not showing it now?”

“...What?”

“Speaking politely is nearly the highest form of respect by my standards.”

“You are stiff-necked.”

“I hear that often. But...”

I swept my cold gaze across the six elders.

“Why are you blocking the way here? Have you lost your way?”

“...You can joke as well.”

“I mean it. If you have not lost your way, step aside.”

The five elders other than Chodong flared up. They looked ready to draw up their internal energy at any moment, and killing intent was already leaking from them.

I raised my head to look at Chodong. Our eyes were roughly level.

“I hear you are the center of their faction. Tell them to step aside.”

“...No matter how much you dislike us, we are elders. You are nothing more than a Branch Leader.”

I could not help but scoff.

“Unofficially, I am the Great Elder’s direct Protector. As far as I know, my position at the main headquarters is equivalent to that of an ordinary elder. Am I mistaken?”

“...”

“I have told my subordinates this before. No matter how much they dislike someone, they should treat that person appropriately if they hold a high position in the sect.”

“And?”

“And I am treating you appropriately right now. If you were not elders, there would be no reason for me to speak with you like this, no reason for me to address you respectfully, and above all, no reason for you to stand so stiffly with your heads held high before me.”

“...”

“You are releasing killing intent. Normally, I would have warned you that I would kill you if you did not withdraw it before I counted to three.”

“...Hah...”

“Am I not holding back now? Is this not sufficient treatment? I think even my subordinates would be quite satisfied.”

I took a step forward. I was nearly nose to nose with Elder Chodong.

“I do not care what you have done in the Asura Sword Sect in the past. But do you want respect?”

“...”

“Treat others as you would yourself. If you wish to be respected, then behave in a manner worthy of respect. Do not waste your mental effort on pointless things, like that fool Neung-don.”

Unexpectedly.

Elder Chodong did not grow angry.

What lay in his eyes was interest.

It stood in stark contrast to the rage of the five elders behind him.

“Will you not move?”

I never considered going around them.

Why should I go around?

I only move forward. Those who block my path should get out of the way themselves. There was no reason for me to turn aside.

Elder Chodong gave a strange smile and stepped to the side, clearing the path. I began walking slowly, but the five elders now blocked my way.

I was beginning to grow irritated.

I was busy.

I had things to do in Three Phoenix County.

I had no time to waste standing around here.

I placed my hand on the Cloud Dragon Sword. The elders flinched.

“Move.”

“...Insolent fool... You have gone too far...”

“I am not like the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader spared Neung-don, but I would have killed him on the spot. And in my eyes, all of you are no different from Neung-don. I will say it one last time. Move, before I kill every one of you.”

Properly Aligned Qi surged from my true dantian and was amplified through the rings. My hair fluttered wildly.

My grip tightened. The five elders flinched, but they still did not move.

As I had told Master, I intended to live without regrets.

Was there a chance I would survive this?

Yes.

Was I confident that I could kill all five elders of the Creation Realm?

Yes.

Even if Chodong joined them, making six, nothing would change.

I would be injured, and I might need to recuperate for several months, but what mattered was that I could kill them. I could think about what came after when the time came.

Just as I was about to draw my sword, an answer came from behind me.

“Step aside.”

It was Chodong.

At Chodong’s words, the five elders split apart to either side.

What did that signify?

It signified Chodong’s influence.

I calmed my energy. I glared at the five elders and was about to move on when I heard a voice.

“You there.”

I turned at Chodong’s voice.

He did not avoid my gaze.

“Do you think we are walking the wrong path?”

“Do you not know the answer yourself?”

“...”

“I do not feel at all that we are heading toward the same destination. Surely you do not think we are?”

“...”

“I will not say anything about you forming a faction to satisfy your private interests, but even that has its limits. There are matters that should be covered up and matters that should not. As I said in the Sect Leader’s Hall, if you are elders, then set an example. Do not shame those beneath you.”

Chodong said nothing.

He only looked at me with an unreadable smile.

Unexpected.

I had thought he would be easier to deal with, but he seemed more thoughtful than I had expected.

There was nothing more to say. Things might change if he reformed himself, but for now, I did not want to join hands with him, place him beneath me, or even exchange words with him.

Time was precious.

I turned away.

That was how I returned to the Three Phoenix Branch.

Of course, before leaving, I stopped by the Medical Classics Pavilion and collected thirty Asura Pills.

The looks I received were not kind, but what could they do?

It was the Sect Leader’s order.

* * *

It took another full day before I could return to Three Phoenix County.

The moment I returned, I felt piercing gazes upon me.

They were somewhat irritating.

This was likely one of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect’s schemes that Dokgo Dan-ya had mentioned.

It did not matter.

I intended to hear them out first, then decide.

When I headed straight to the Three Phoenix Branch, two people greeted me. Myeong-hyeon, whose eyes were slightly unfocused, and Un Do-hyeon, who still stood straight and gave a respectful cupped-fist salute.

“I will report what happened while you were away, my lord.”

I raised a hand briefly.

“Before that, Myeong-hyeon.”

“Yes?”

“Did you unseal your meridians again?”

“...Yes.”

“Why?”

“Branch members from the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect’s Jangam Branch came in a group. I had to prepare for possible bloodshed.”

I watched him quietly.

He was a strange one.

“You did well. Seal them again now. Since I am here, there is no need to draw upon Demonic arts.”

“I have been wondering about this for a while, but where does that confidence even come from?”

I ignored him. After taking my seat, I gestured to Un Do-hyeon.

“Report.”

“Yes. First...”

Other than the spiritual medicines and several treasured swords among the items taken from Heavenly Forest, everything else, along with the tribute gifts the Hong Clan of Three Phoenix County had given me, had been sent to be sold throughout Jeok Nation through the Un Clan Manor’s merchant caravan. Heavenly Forest had sent twenty Hundred-Year Ginseng as well, and so on.

What followed was important.

“Pung Bi-chang of the Jangam Branch came and threatened every clan in Three Phoenix County.”

“Threatened them?”

“Yes. Pung Bi-chang said that if you do not come to Jangam County and kneel within a week, they will cut off the sect heads’ heads just as you did. Upon hearing this, the sects of Three Phoenix County...”

“They are afraid?”

“Yes. This is the list.”

Un Do-hyeon handed me a rather thick letter.

I read through it silently.

“There are many.”

“Some spread the agitation, while others were swept up in it. But in the end, more than half the sects want you to kneel before the Jangam Branch.”

Was this not an interesting situation?

“It is as though Three Phoenix County is not territory ruled by the Asura Sword Sect, but territory ruled by the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect.”

“My lord, may I offer an opinion?”

“Go ahead.”

“I do not believe you need to respond personally.”

“Why not?”

“If we make examples of only a few leading clans and those stirring things up, the rest will settle down.”

“Settle down?”

“Yes. Leave it to me. I will go and handle it.”

Handle it...?

“Do you intend to go alone?”

“...I intend to use the Un Clan Manor’s strength.”

I laughed.

Myeong-hyeon voiced what I was thinking for me.

“Our junior is very soft-hearted.”

Un Do-hyeon looked at Myeong-hyeon. My brow briefly furrowed at the sight of him sitting crookedly and receiving the report as though he were a master, but I could understand it as a side effect of Demonic arts.

“What do you mean, soft-hearted?”

“Junior. When there is a matter with a time limit like this, simply making examples of a few people is not enough. Why? Because they are the sort who can turn on us again at any time.”

“...”

“Still, wiping out entire clans makes no sense either. Then again, who knows? Our Branch Leader is certainly capable of that. And it is not as if you are acting alone. If you bring in the Un Clan Manor, you will only make things more complicated. Have you not thought about what comes after?”

Things would certainly become complicated.

However, I understood well why Un Do-hyeon had made the suggestion.

He was worried about me. From the main headquarters to Three Phoenix County.

I had traveled that great distance there and back in only two days.

His judgment that I must have expended much internal energy had become concern for me, and that was how it had shown itself.

I rose from my seat and patted Un Do-hyeon on the shoulder.

“It was a good suggestion. I understand your concern as well.”

“...My lord...”

“However, it remains rejected. Your words are not without reason, either. They are people swayed about by a mere threat, so what can be done?”

I intended to do things my way.

Perhaps reading something in my resolute expression, Myeong-hyeon rose from his seat.

Un Do-hyeon spoke.