WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Alyo
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Memoir of a Regressor ◈
Chapter 77: The Ambush Foretold
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My gaze turned icy.
Myeong-hyeon was aiming the Bone-Melting Needle Crossbow, while Ak Nan-hyang held his arm.
Myeong-hyeon’s arm was trembling, but Ak Nan-hyang was not.
There was no need to hear any explanations. The situation was obvious.
After dropping Myeong-hyeon off at this branch, I had gone straight to see the Asura Pavilion Master. During that brief time, Ak Nan-hyang had arrived. Myeong-hyeon had recognized her as an enemy and aimed the remaining Bone-Melting Needle Crossbow at her. Ak Nan-hyang had subdued him.
Without a word, I drew the Cloud Dragon Sword.
Properly Aligned Qi surged from my true dantian.
Ak Nan-hyang’s eyes widened, and she kicked off backward.
Boom!
The floor split cleanly in two. I drew back my sword, recited the formula, and thrust forward.
Great Purity Dragon-Form Sword.
Concentrated force aura in the clear shape of a dragon shot toward her. Ak Nan-hyang raised her sectional whip and swung it. Inner energy whirled around her.
Bang!
My concentrated force aura broke apart.
I immediately kicked off the ground. Ak Nan-hyang’s eyes widened in surprise as she drew the sword at her waist.
It was a streak of light.
A light so sharp and vivid.
I swung the Cloud Dragon Sword.
Craaaash!
Sword met sword. Strength flooded both my legs, and the floor caved in beneath us.
I had the advantage in strength.
Ak Nan-hyang staggered back. Her back soon hit the wall, and she shook out her numbed arm.
Just as I ignored her and prepared to charge again, Ak Nan-hyang raised both hands.
“Wait... stop for a moment.”
“Are you leaving last words?”
“...No, that’s not it. I came here for a reason.”
It had been a while since I had been this angry.
“I’ve been too indulgent, and you’ve crossed the line.”
“...Me?”
“Who gave you the right to come and go here as you please?”
“There was a reason for that...”
“Why should I care?”
“...”
“Were we ever that close?”
“...No, but...”
“If not, then you dared to trespass in my territory and even lay hands on my subordinate. Do I look that easy to you? Don’t you understand when I only use words? A mere Radiant Cult crawling along the ground, acting so arrogantly.”
My eyes flashed. Properly Aligned Qi gathered in my legs. Three rings spun furiously.
I kicked off the ground.
Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning at its peak.
Natural Qi settled over Ak Nan-hyang’s body as her eyes widened. She brought her sword down from overhead. I struck her blade aside with the back of my left hand, then immediately brought down the Cloud Dragon Sword.
Startled, Ak Nan-hyang retreated. She must have sensed the danger, because she smashed through the wall as she fell back.
I extended my sword.
Slice.
A long cut opened across Ak Nan-hyang’s cheek. She brought down her sword. I raised the Cloud Dragon Sword sideways to block it, knocked her blade away, and swung.
Slice!
The front of Ak Nan-hyang’s robe was cut open. I immediately kicked her.
Thud!
Ak Nan-hyang slid backward. She looked down at the clear footprint on her abdomen, then raised her head.
Her eyes had turned cold as well.
“...You’re serious?”
“Did you think I wasn’t?”
“It’s surprising enough that you reached Five Qis Return to Origin, but how are you able to fight me like this? I may not have been at this level for long, but I am still in the Creation Realm. How is this... even possible?”
I had no intention of satisfying her curiosity.
Just as I was about to charge again, Ak Nan-hyang reined in her energy while keeping both hands raised.
“I’ll apologize.”
“...”
“I’m sorry. So calm down, and let’s go back inside.”
I silently tightened my grip on my sword.
Ak Nan-hyang hurriedly continued.
“Like you said, we’re the ones crawling along the ground. What else could we do? We couldn’t come openly, so we had to sneak in like this. I’m sorry for trespassing in your territory, but hear me out first. I came to give you information. It’ll definitely be useful to you. Someone from our Radiant Cult, hidden inside the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, obtained it with great difficulty. I promise you won’t regret it. Really.”
Ak Nan-hyang seemed sincere.
I stared at her silently before lowering my sword.
“This is the last time. If you secretly approach me or lurk around me like this again, I’ll start hunting down and killing everyone affiliated with the Radiant Cult that very day. Do you understand?”
“...Perfectly.”
“Come in.”
I turned around.
* * *
Ak Nan-hyang let out a sigh and trudged inside. The building had been badly damaged by the recent clash, but it still retained its shape.
She headed toward a corner.
As Ak Nan-hyang leaned against the wall, she instinctively caught what flew toward her.
It was a robe.
“Put it on.”
“...First you hurt me, then you give me medicine. What is this?”
Still, she did not dislike it.
Her torn robe exposed what lay beneath, and walking around like that was rather awkward.
She draped the robe over herself and covered the torn parts.
“Now speak.”
Yi Do sat in a chair with his legs crossed. The sight suited him remarkably well.
That commanding appearance of his was not particularly unpleasant.
Ak Nan-hyang scratched her head and opened her mouth.
“I didn’t want things to turn out like this, but it was my fault, so I’ll accept it. Listen carefully. The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect is plotting something right now.”
“What?”
“Pung Bi-chang, the former master of this place, was the direct disciple of Han Beom-seong, Iron Tower Domineering Fist and one of the Eight Elders of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect. He is in the Creation Realm. As you can tell from his title, he uses his fists and has a huge build. But do you know his most notable trait?”
“I do not.”
“He considers an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth to be the iron rule of his life.”
“He repays whatever he suffers?”
“Close. No matter what happens to him, he always pays it back in a similar fashion. Take you, for example. Before taking Jangam County, you assassinated the clan heads. You also raided merchant caravans.”
Yi Do remained silent.
He neither denied nor confirmed it, but everyone who needed to know already knew.
Yi Do had torn them all apart and killed them.
Ak Nan-hyang continued.
“I think he plans to do the same thing.”
“Is that so.”
“You know the Assassin Fortress was completely destroyed, right?”
“I do.”
“The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect isn’t some gathering of saints. Mun Hu-do died, and so did all the Assassin Fortress’s important figures beneath him. Accepting them would have been ridiculous. But here is the interesting part. When Mun Hu-do went to the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect, he brought an enormous amount of wealth with him. Weapons were one thing, but they say the gold alone was worth nearly tens of thousands of taels. The Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect swallowed all of it. Maybe they felt guilty after taking it all, because they killed around half of the Assassin Fortress remnants and accepted the other half as entry disciples or second-generation disciples. They’ll move with Han Beom-seong.”
“When?”
“I got this information yesterday, and they’ve probably already started moving. They’re far away, though, so maybe six days? Four if they hurry? And hey, I ran straight to you after hearing this, but you just swung your sword at me. Aren’t you being too sensitive?”
Yi Do frowned.
“Me?”
“Who else would I mean, him?”
The “him” she meant was Myeong-hyeon, who stood in the corner with an awkward smile.
“I clearly said that if you had no intention of giving absolute loyalty, I had no intention of joining hands with you.”
“...What are you talking about? Absolute loyalty?”
Yi Do frowned at that instead.
He did not know much about what kind of person Ak Nan-hyang was, but one thing was clear.
She was not lying right now.
This truly was the first time Ak Nan-hyang had heard of it.
“Did you not hear it from the White Spirit Medical Clan?”
“Hear what... Wait, the White Spirit Medical Clan? What are you? How much do you know?”
“Answer my question.”
“...It’s not as if I have several bodies. I returned from the Wi Martial World two days ago. How could I have gone there?”
“Is that so.”
Then this was simply Ak Nan-hyang’s goodwill.
Yi Do did not know the Radiant Cult’s internal circumstances in detail, but it strongly felt as though there were factions within it as well.
When Yi Do roughly explained what had happened at the White Spirit Medical Clan, Ak Nan-hyang burst out laughing.
“How strange. Not only did you grant the Mad Physician’s wish, you even gave Seomun Hyeok such a warning? How did you know Seomun Hyeok belonged to the Radiant Cult?”
“There are no eternal secrets in the martial world.”
“That isn’t wrong, but you seem like a bit of an exception. You have far too many secrets.”
“Do not try to uncover them.”
“...You’re strange. Truly strange.”
“I will not apologize for attacking first. You did trespass without permission.”
“I have nothing to say about that either. But.”
Ak Nan-hyang’s expression grew a little serious.
“You don’t plan to stop at Jangam County, do you?”
“Is that not obvious?”
“Most people would stop here, but I thought you might not, so I asked.”
What was Yi Do’s goal?
If he had caused all this merely to occupy Jangam County, that would have been even more absurd.
“You’re thinking of an all-out war, aren’t you?”
Yi Do did not answer.
It was neither affirmation nor denial, but Ak Nan-hyang was certain.
“Interesting. A little worrying, too.”
“Not something for you to worry about.”
“You’re so cold. Well, no one thought you would be able to take Jangam County like this, so we’ll have to watch and see. And congratulations on reaching Five Qis Return to Origin.”
Yi Do nodded.
“I can see it with my own eyes and still can’t believe it. As for a gift... let the information I gave you count as that.”
Yi Do snickered.
Not bad.
“You know how to make a deal.”
“Of course. I may not look it, but I used to be the Pavilion Lord of the Radiant Cult’s Financial Administration Pavilion.”
“Is that so.”
“Take care, and I’ll see you again. We can drink next time.”
As Ak Nan-hyang turned to leave, Yi Do casually said behind her.
“I apologize for tearing your clothes.”
Ak Nan-hyang’s eyes widened.
Then a smile formed on her lips.
What an interesting man.
He was not sorry for attacking her, but he was sorry for tearing her clothes?
He was almost too honest.
With a smile full of fondness, Ak Nan-hyang kicked off the ground. She vanished in an instant.
“Our Branch Master is incredibly popular. You enchant men, and now women too. You’re going to cause quite a scene someday.”
Yi Do turned his head. Myeong-hyeon was forcing a smile.
“If you are struggling, you may lie down.”
“How could I lie down? Is there not something I must do first?”
“Something you must do?”
Myeong-hyeon slowly knelt.
“Thank you for accepting me. From now on, my life, my soul, all of it is yours.”
There was something Yi Do wanted to emphasize.
“Your life is yours, and your soul is yours. There is only one thing I want.”
“What is it?”
“Absolute loyalty.”
Myeong-hyeon smiled.
“You already have that from me.”
Then that was enough.
“Rise.”
“Yes.”
Yi Do gave Myeong-hyeon all but one of the thirty-year Asura Pills he had received from Sang-gwan Yeon-hwi.
“You have already heard about them, so I will not explain. Recover the strength of Five Qis Return to Origin as quickly as possible.”
“It will be difficult, but I will try.”
“Good.”
Sorry to Ak Nan-hyang, but he could not trust only one side’s story.
Yi Do immediately headed for the Jangam Branch of the Heavenly Intelligence Gate.
* * *
Yi Do was truly unusual.
Setting aside what kind of person he was, wherever he went, Yi Do built a reputation one way or another.
Whether it was infamy or prestige, what mattered was that he accumulated it.
Becoming enemies with a man like that was exhausting.
In that regard, Jang Sang-bo, who had already dealt with Yi Do once, did not regret his choice.
Jang Sang-bo, who had lived as the Branch Head of the Heavenly Intelligence Gate’s Three Phoenix Branch, had become the Branch Head of the Jangam Branch just yesterday.
Jang Sang-bo hurried out to greet him.
“Ha ha ha ha ha. Sir, congratulations, even if they are late.”
Yi Do looked around.
“It is clean.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Jang Sang-bo, who had been laughing happily, belatedly gave a cupped-fist salute.
“I apologize.”
“You apologize? For what?”
“I received the appointment yesterday, but... I failed to greet you first. I will not make excuses. I apologize.”
Expressionless, Yi Do nodded.
“It is fine. A person only has one body. How can they handle many tasks at once?”
An ordinary person might have laughed that off. But Jang Sang-bo was one of barely more than two hundred Branch Heads in the Heavenly Intelligence Gate.
He was perceptive, and his abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people.
In his eyes, Yi Do’s words carried a sharp barb.
One could not handle many tasks at once, but was cleaning more important than coming to greet him first?
That was how Jang Sang-bo interpreted it.
The color drained from his face.
“S-Sir...”
“I said it is fine.”
“...It is not fine for me. Please sit first. Um, do you like tea? I happen to have Snow Spirit Tea, said to be drunk only by the palace masters of the distant Perennial Snow Palace... I will prepare it immediately.”
Yi Do could not help snickering.
Snow Spirit Tea.
He had heard of it so often that he was sick of it.
“No tea. First, congratulations on becoming the Branch Head of the Jangam Branch.”
“Th-thank you.”
“I came here because there is information I wish to know. Do you know what it is?”
Jang Sang-bo swallowed hard and headed to the bookshelf in the corner as though he had been waiting for this. He brought over several thick bundles of paper and placed them before Yi Do.
“The reason I could not come greet Yi Do immediately was actually because of these.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. I owe much of my coming here to Yi Do. How could I, as a person, ignore such a favor? These are what I organized as soon as I arrived here...”
“Are they about the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect?”
“That is right. First... this, this is it.”
Jang Sang-bo laid several sheets of paper before Yi Do and quickly continued.
“As you know, an all-out war between sects rarely occurs. Even if you occupy Jangam County and other places within the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect’s territory, it will not happen. You can likely guess why.”
“They fear weakening each other’s power.”
“Correct. That is why the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect will not move easily. But there is one exception.”
Yi Do quietly listened to Jang Sang-bo.
“Pung Bi-chang was the direct disciple of Han Beom-seong, one of the current Eight Elders of the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect. Han Beom-seong is a Creation Realm master and one of the pillars supporting the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect. Even if Gong Wi-ryang, the Sect Leader, gives orders, Han Beom-seong alone will move.”
“He will move?”
“Yes. The Fortress Master and Deputy Fortress Master of the Assassin Fortress died. Its forces scattered, but I learned yesterday that the Heaven-Breaking Fist Sect accepted the Assassin Fortress assassins as entry disciples.”
That matched what Ak Nan-hyang had said.
“Han Beom-seong is famous as a martial artist who repays what he suffers in a similar manner... I believe you should prepare yourself. Forgive me if I have overstepped.”
Yi Do shook his head.
“That is enough. How much for the information?”
Jang Sang-bo smiled faintly.
“I failed to come and greet you first. If you forgive me, I will consider that my payment.”
Yi Do smiled as well.
“I like you, Jang Sang-bo.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep acting that way. If you do, the reward you receive will be sweeter than you expect.”
He rose from his seat.
It was enough.
He had no intention of deploying a formation, as he had when facing the Golden Heaven Divine Sword at the Yi Clan, or doing anything of the sort.
He no longer needed to.
He could handle one Creation Realm master well enough.
As Yi Do came outside and prepared to return to the branch, he stopped.
“Ho ho ho ho ho. You little brother. Have you been well?”
It was Myo Man-ri.
Beside Myo Man-ri stood Un Do-hyeon, whose body was covered in wounds but whose eyes remained clear. Next to him stood an ordinary woman and a young boy.
Yi Do meant to say they must have had a hard time and ask whether they had eaten, but he could not.
“You brat, you have reached Five Qis Return to Origin! Ho ho ho ho ho! Try taking this!”
Myo Man-ri suddenly drew his sword and unleashed lightning.
Krrrrrooom.
Yi Do drew the Cloud Dragon Sword as well. His eyes flashed.
Heaven-Transcending Thunder Sword Formula.
Krrrrrooom!
The five bolts of lightning rushing toward him vanished against the single bolt Yi Do unleashed.
Myo Man-ri burst into loud laughter.
“Good. Excellent! Come, let us continue!”
Myo Man-ri charged.
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