WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Alyo
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◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈
Chapter 76: Ak Nan-hyang
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How long had it been since he had felt this way?
It was a thought of Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi, the Asura Pavilion Master.
Could it be called flusteredness?
Yes. That seemed appropriate.
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi was flustered.
He could not help it.
He was currently in Jangam County.
The very Jangam County that had become the Asura Sword Sect’s new territory.
At a nearby inn, he ordered Dongpo pork and Bamboo Leaf Green wine.
“Goodness, for such an esteemed personage to visit our inn... Please, try this. Our Jinwon Inn’s chef made it especially for you. We will not charge you.”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi shook his head.
Then he took two Silver Taels from his robes and handed them to the innkeeper.
“Hah... It is all right. You truly do not need to pay.”
“Enough. Take it.”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi was a resolute man. Faced with his frightening expression, the innkeeper eventually accepted the Silver Taels. After bowing deeply to him, the innkeeper promptly left.
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi gazed at the table before him.
Dongpo pork, Bamboo Leaf Green wine, and fish-fragrant shredded pork.
It was too much for one person to eat.
That was right.
He was alone.
It had already been three days since Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi arrived in Jangam County.
For three days, he had had to watch over Jangam County alone.
As he ate, he continued thinking.
He had long ago received word that Great Elder Myo Man-ri had gone to Jangam County, yet the man was nowhere to be found when Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi arrived.
Apparently, he had taken a member of the Three Phoenix Branch and gone somewhere... He was truly difficult to understand.
Why had Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi come to Jangam County in the first place?
To meet Yi Do.
Yet Yi Do was absent as well.
The most important person, the Branch Leader, was away. There were no branch members, either.
That was another reason Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi could not easily leave.
And yet, he did not feel too displeased.
When a sect ruled a region, it meant it held overwhelming influence there.
For that to happen, everyone in the region had to either revere or fear the Asura Sword Sect.
After all, respect came from fear.
Even without its key Branch Leader, the Asura Sword Sect’s influence remained unchanged. It was not shaken in the slightest and stood firm.
Confusion?
There was none. Even the government troops looked favorably upon Yi Do. Honestly, Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi could state with certainty that even if Yi Do were absent for several months, none of that influence would change.
He was satisfied.
No, he was impressed.
For about one of the past two days, he had remained inside the Jangam Branch. During that time, more than several dozen people had voluntarily sent all manner of goods, calling them protection payments.
The Jangam Branch’s underground storeroom was now piled with more goods than one could count.
One thing had to be made clear.
They had not come looking for Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi.
They had come looking for Yi Do.
It was astonishing.
He took a long drink of Bamboo Leaf Green wine.
Yi Do was a man who inspired admiration. When Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi had only heard about him from afar, he had honestly thought the man was merely impressive. But seeing things for himself...
He had no words.
Yi Do handled matters with absolute certainty.
That was when the door to Jinwon Inn opened.
A man entered. After looking around, he approached Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi.
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi raised his head. Their eyes met.
The man respectfully gave a cupped-fist salute.
“I greet the Asura Pavilion Master.”
“Hah... So this is how I meet the Branch Leader of that famous Jangam Branch.”
There was a slight barb in his words, and Yi Do did not avoid it.
“I apologize.”
“You have no excuse to offer?”
“No. If you wish to punish me, I will accept it gladly.”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi liked that as well. Yi Do did not make a single excuse.
When people did something wrong, they usually began with excuses.
This and that happened, so they had no choice, please forgive them. Something like that.
But Yi Do was different.
Beyond being confident in his actions, whenever he was at fault, he apologized first and said he would accept punishment.
Punishment.
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi did intend to give him some.
“Sit. There is a bit too much food for me to eat alone.”
Yi Do sat without complaint. Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi pushed an empty cup toward him and filled it with wine.
“Drink. That is your punishment.”
Once again, Yi Do drank without complaint.
“It is rare for a Branch Leader to make the Asura Pavilion Master wait, but I am also at fault for coming without notice. Let us overlook it.”
“Yes.”
“Still, there is something I cannot help asking. Where exactly did the Great Elder go, and why did you leave Jangam County for five days?”
Yi Do looked at the Asura Pavilion Master for a moment.
How much should he say?
He did not have to ponder for long. Sect Leader Dokgo Dan-ya and Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi were very close.
Yi Do did not know how much the Sect Leader had told Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi, but the Asura Pavilion Master needed to know.
Yi Do told him everything without concealing anything.
After hearing it all, Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi blinked.
“...So the Great Elder has gone to Geongon City in the Yan Kingdom... and you went to Baekmun Town to treat that Myeong-hyeon?”
“Yes.”
The Asura Pavilion Master lowered his voice. Even that did not seem enough.
A qi barrier formed around him.
“You mean to accept him despite knowing he is Yaksha?”
“From the day I first came to the Asura Sword Sect, Myeong-hyeon has already been mine.”
“...We do not know what consequences this matter may bring later.”
“No one can predict the future, but I believe I can say one thing with certainty.”
“What is that?”
“Myeong-hyeon’s existence will save our Asura Sword Sect.”
“...Save it? If the Emperor Sword Sect steps forward first and exposes Yaksha’s identity...”
“It does not matter. We can expose them as well.”
“...”
“The just cause will ultimately be on our side.”
“...That is true. But does this not mean making enemies of the Emperor Sword Sect?”
Yi Do quietly looked at Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi.
He truly concealed nothing.
“Do you consider the Emperor Sword Sect our ally?”
“...”
“They have already deployed Yaksha. They have regarded the Asura Sword Sect as a potential enemy for a long time. That is an undeniable fact.”
“Go on.”
“Do you consider the Martial Alliance our ally, Asura Pavilion Master?”
“...You...”
“The Emperor Sword Sect and the Martial Alliance are one and the same. Even if not all martial artists belonging to them are, at least the Heavenly Emperor and the Sword Sovereign share a deep friendship. If one side is endangered, the other will surely step forward.”
“...I fully understand what you mean. So what do you intend to do?”
“It is simple. We must grow our power until the Martial Alliance and the Emperor Sword Sect cannot make any moves against us.”
“Grow our power?”
“More precisely, we must grow our influence. Before aiming at distant enemies, does the Asura Sword Sect not still have work to do?”
Work to do.
Even the Asura Pavilion Master and the other elders could not deny that.
Who was the Asura Sword Sect’s enemy?
The Emperor Sword Sect and the Martial Alliance were enemies of the future, not enemies of the present.
By drawing in the imperial court, Yi Do had blocked the approach of both forces.
No matter what happened, the Emperor Sword Sect and Martial Alliance could not act under the current circumstances. Even if they found a justification, that fact would not change. They operated under the fundamental premise of following the Orthodox Path, so now that the imperial court was involved, they could never make a move.
Yi Do had not drawn in the War King for no reason. He had done so with a plan in mind.
Their present enemy.
“The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect’s schemes have sickened the spirit of the Asura Sword Sect, and even now, they are slowly gnawing away at it.”
“Hmm...”
“I have already incurred debts and grudges with the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect. Such debts and grudges can only end when one side breaks, and I have no intention of breaking.”
“You intend to see it through to the end?”
“Yes.”
The Asura Pavilion Master’s grave expression slowly eased.
A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“The Sect Leader said that you are the future of the Asura Sword Sect.”
“Did he?”
“At first, I did not agree with him. But now I think I understand why he said such a thing.”
The Asura Pavilion Master quietly filled Yi Do’s cup with wine.
“Do as you wish. If you need support, tell me. I will help as much as I can within my power.”
“At present, there is nothing I wish to ask of you.”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi burst out laughing. Yi Do was an amusing man.
He silently took a book from his robes and handed it to Yi Do.
Yi Do asked with his eyes what it was, and Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi answered.
“It is the Dark Asura Heavenly Sword.”
“...Pardon?”
It was a rare sight, Yi Do being flustered.
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi’s smile deepened.
“As you know, your case is highly unusual. The Great Elder brought you here himself, but he did not give you any of the sword sect’s martial arts.”
That was true. Although Yi Do belonged to the Asura Sword Sect, he did not know a single martial art of the Asura Sword Sect.
He had never learned any.
“The Great Elder should have given this to you, but... honestly, we did not know either. This is a gift from the Sect Leader.”
Yi Do silently opened the martial arts manual.
His eyes quickly scanned its contents.
Thud.
He closed the manual.
“...This reward is far too generous. This is the Sect Leader’s personal martial art. For me to learn it...”
“Do not worry. The Sect Leader said that he would not place you in the position of Junior Sect Leader without your consent.”
“...”
“Learn it. It will be of great use to you. And...”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi’s eyes sharpened.
“...You have reached Five Qis Return to Origin.”
“I was fortunate.”
“If it could be achieved through luck alone, every martial artist in the world would be at Five Qis Return to Origin. There is no need to be modest.”
After thinking for a moment, Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi took out a pouch.
“Just in case, I should tell you that I have placed thirty Asura Pills at the Jangam Branch. This is a separate gift from me.”
Yi Do accepted the pouch and looked inside.
There were as many as ten elixir pills shining with golden light.
“Asura Pills. Thirty-year ones, too.”
“I trust you will make good use of them.”
“Thank you.”
Yi Do was not one to refuse what was offered. Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi continued.
“And an Embroidered Uniform Guard named Eun Jin-san asked me to relay this.”
“I am listening.”
“He said to postpone your appointment to drink together until next time. He had urgent business and left first.”
Yi Do nodded.
“Then let us get up.”
“Yes.”
“And take this.”
Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi had many things on him. His build was so large that even the robe he wore was enormous, with considerable space within it. This time, he handed Yi Do a rolled bundle of papers.
“I heard that the imperial court intends to merge Jangam County and Three Phoenix County into one. There is no need for us to maintain two branches in such nearby regions, so from today onward, you will oversee both areas.”
“Yes. But what are these papers?”
“A list of branch members recommended by the Asura Pavilion.”
“...”
“I know you wish to choose them yourself, but the territory you must manage has increased. In my judgment, two branch members are too few... Still, if you say no, there is nothing I can do.”
There were not merely one or two sheets. There had to be several dozen at least.
“I will not force you, but give it some thought. If there is someone you like, send a carrier pigeon to the main headquarters. We will send them at once.”
“Thank you.”
“Very well, I will be going. Next time, let us meet at the main headquarters.”
“Travel safely.”
Yi Do watched Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi’s retreating back as he left.
Despite having held a fairly constructive conversation until then, Yi Do’s expression was not bright.
Unexpectedly.
He watched Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi with an exceedingly cold gaze.
Yi Do remained there for some time.
He stayed silent as though he had much to think about, then slowly rose.
He had not reached a conclusion about everything in his mind, but it was enough.
Now he needed to deal with matters in Jangam County. This place would become a new refuge.
After leaving the inn, he headed straight for the Jangam Branch.
The moment he opened the door, his brow furrowed.
“Hello.”
There was an uninvited guest.
A woman.
Ak Nan-hyang, who would one day earn the epithet Blood Maiden of Mount Wu, waved the hand holding a sectional whip.
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