Absolute Regression

The award ceremony was as splendid as the martial arts tournament.

The winner received a gold medal and prize money. Even more honorable was the fact that Jin Paecheon presented the award personally.

The heroes chanted Seo Daeryong’s name. Seo Daeryong had never heard his name called so many times in his life. It was probably the first and last time this would happen.

As the leader handed the gold medal to Seo Daeryong, he spoke.

“You showed excellent skills. Please continue to devote yourself to the peace of Murim.”

“Thank you.”

However, the leader sent his true message via telepathy.

―If you harm a righteous warrior with that blade technique, I will make sure you die by my hand.

Seo Daeryong dared not argue and quietly accepted the gold medal and prize money. Knowing he was a demonic cultist, it was already a blessing to receive an award like this.

“Well done.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Do you realize now how vast the world of Murim is?”

“Yes, I thought I could be a dragon, but I realize now that I was just a frog in a well. I will strive harder from now on, Grandfather.”

That was enough. Jin Paecheon patted her shoulder with a satisfied smile.

As she descended the stage with her award, Jin Haryeong glanced at Geom Mugeuk, who was standing in the distance.

Geom Mugeuk waved at her. She could feel his emotion: “You did well, my friend.”

Seeing that, Jin Haryeong suddenly welled up with tears. She hadn’t felt much until now, but seeing Geom Mugeuk made her overwhelmed with sorrow for no reason. ɌàＮɵ฿ΕṨ

Unable to cry in front of the heroes, she continued to walk briskly. The thought of rumors spreading about her crying at the award ceremony, or that she cried out of frustration, was truly dreadful.

Someone beside her said something, but she didn’t even look and quickly left the area.

The person who tried to talk to her was Jo Sohyeop. With a disappointed expression, he couldn’t follow her. He was holding a gift to celebrate her victory.

Since he had engraved “Congratulations on your victory” on the dagger, he couldn’t give it to her. He never imagined she would lose. He should have given it to her triumphantly when she won.

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

His gaze turned toward Seo Daeryong, who was still overwhelmed with congratulations.

‘That country bumpkin actually won? How is this even possible?’

The master won, and the servant tried to seduce the woman he was going to marry. Both were bastards deserving of a beating. There was no way this story could end well.

Jo Sohyeop returned to his quarters, seething with anger.

As he entered his room, he was startled. A man was waiting for him inside.

It was Cheolgwon, the man who delivered the orders from the leader of the Heavenly Society.

At first, Jo Sohyeop had wondered if this Cheolgwon was actually the leader of the Heavenly Society disguised as a messenger. After all, the aura he exuded was far from ordinary.

‘If a person like this is merely a subordinate, then just how formidable must the leader of the Heavenly Society be?’

Jo Sohyeop had yet to meet the leader in person, but it was promised that he would once he completed his current task.

Although he was displeased with someone being in his room without permission, Jo Sohyeop couldn’t openly show his dissatisfaction.

“You’re here?”

“Wasn’t it you who called for me, Young Master Jo?”

“You say I called for you?”

“You claimed you were confident about the marriage with Jin Haryeong, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Just a year ago, Jo Sohyeop had been losing the succession battle of the True Dragon Manor.

Then, the Heavenly Society appeared before him. They made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: if he joined hands with them, they would make him the heir.

Becoming the heir with their help was a success.

Once he was confirmed as the heir, they made a demand: marry the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader. It wasn’t an impossible request. The True Dragon Manor was a family worthy of forming an alliance with the Murim Alliance.

Jo Sohyeop persuaded his father and even funded the Murim Alliance with substantial support to make this marriage happen.

He had chosen the time of the Soaring Dragon Tournament because it allowed him to see her often. With his good looks, something his family was known for wherever they went, he was confident that winning Jin Haryeong’s heart wouldn’t be difficult—until that damn servant appeared.

“I hear rumors that you’ve aligned yourself with the servant.”

“Where did you hear such nonsense? That man is my subordinate.”

Jo Sohyeop spoke confidently, and Cheolgwon stared at him intently. When their eyes met, Jo Sohyeop felt the same intimidation he had felt when they first met. If this oppressive aura was deliberate, Jo Sohyeop would have never been daunted.

But Jo Sohyeop realized that this killing intent was a natural part of the man’s nature. It was the kind of raw hostility that only someone who found no meaning in killing could exude. It was the sort of killing intent that made Jo Sohyeop feel like he would be dismembered and tossed into a filthy gutter if he acted recklessly.

“That man is a subordinate?”

“I recruited him to secure the marriage with Jin Haryeong. I will use him to ensure the success of the marriage.”

It wasn’t a lie. He had promised the servant ten thousand nyang to get him on his side. Of course, he never planned to honor his promise.

Cheolgwon stared at Jo Sohyeop again.

If that gaze was from someone trying to understand him, it would have been fine.

But the gaze was closer to indifference. It was the cold stare of a killer who didn’t care about the truth—only the result mattered.

Just from looking at Cheolgwon in front of him, Jo Sohyeop could tell these people were not ordinary. They weren’t just some common figures rumored to be behind incidents in various places.

They were special. If one kept their promise, they would undoubtedly be rewarded. They were villains who acted solely for their own benefit, but that also meant they were reliable in delivering what they promised. That was why Jo Sohyeop had allied with them.

Cheolgwon stood up and walked to the window.

“Come here and look at that.”

Jo Sohyeop cautiously walked over and stood beside him.

“That broken sapling over there, I stepped on it and snapped it while coming here. It was planted too closely. When things are like that, neither tree can grow into a towering one.”

Cheolgwon slowly looked at Jo Sohyeop.

“We want you to grow into a great tree.”

Jo Sohyeop knew those words held no sincerity.

Cheolgwon didn’t care at all whether Jo Sohyeop became a great tree or not. If the leader of the Heavenly Society ordered him to kill, he would kill; if told to spare, he would spare. To Cheolgwon, Jo Sohyeop wasn’t even worth as much as the broken sapling.

Jo Sohyeop wanted to shout, “Go preach about great trees to your own children.” He hated receiving unsolicited advice and pressure from anyone. Showing respect to villains would only make them take him even less seriously.

But Jo Sohyeop didn’t dare.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“Prepare the wedding gift and wait.”

Cheolgwon quietly left the room.

Once Cheolgwon was gone, Jo Sohyeop exhaled the breath he had been holding back. It was a sigh mixed with tension, fear, irritation, and anger.

The marriage, the servant, the Heavenly Society—none of it was as easy as he wanted. It felt like his once comfortable life had entered a new level of difficulty. But Jo Sohyeop had no intention of giving up.

‘One day, I’ll make sure to repay all of this.’

He hadn’t yet said those words aloud. That would come after he made his family the strongest in Murim.

* * *

“The prize money is a whole ten thousand nyang!”

Seo Daeryong was overjoyed with the sudden windfall.

He handed me five thousand nyang first.

“Here, since we won the championship together, let’s split it in half.”

“Are you going to regret this later?”

“Five thousand nyang is more than enough for me. With this, I can treat Lord Jang and Lee Ahn. And also…”

“And also?”

“I can buy something nice for the woman who cheered for me.”

“Did you arrange to meet her?”

“No, I don’t even know her name yet.”

He’d find out soon enough. She was bound to approach Seo Daeryong in some way or another. I wondered how she’d do it.

“She’s been cheering for me since long before I won the championship. That makes her special.”

Seo Daeryong was already deeply infatuated with her. 1

“Oh, are you coming to the banquet with me?”

The Murim Alliance was hosting a celebratory banquet, inviting all the winners and those who made it to the finals.

“Of course.”

“I’m going to go buy some clothes for the banquet. Want to come? I’ll buy you a set.”

“I’m good. You go ahead and get yourself something nice.”

“Oh, I will! This time, I’m definitely buying myself an expensive outfit!”

After an excited Seo Daeryong left, I spoke into the empty air.

“Sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. The situation was urgent at the time.”

I was speaking to the martial artist sent by the Alliance Leader, who was hidden around me. When I took Seo Daeryong to the Insect Doctor, I had dashed ahead using the Star Light Step, and he hadn’t been able to keep up with me.

Upon returning to the Murim Alliance, I sensed that he had resumed his stealthy presence around me, but I had been too preoccupied with training with Seo Daeryong to engage with him. He probably felt annoyed by the whole situation.

But, as always, the hidden martial artist showed no reaction. He was truly a person who strictly followed orders.

While I felt sorry, I chose not to tell him that the woman approaching Seo Daeryong was from the Heavenly Society. I didn’t think it was necessary to mention it in advance.

* * *

I did not enter the banquet hall.

Tonight’s main character should be Seo Daeryong, after all. I stood outside the banquet hall, observing the situation inside as if I were just another attendant.

However, Jin Haryeong somehow found her way to where I was.

“Why aren’t you going inside?”

“I just felt a bit stifled.”

“Want to take a short walk?”

“That sounds good.”

I strolled through the inner garden with her.

“Actually, I came to find you at the inn before the final match. Do you know what I was going to say? I was going to tease you, saying, ‘I could let you win if you ask nicely.’”

It seemed that losing the match was still bothering her. She was talking more and faster than usual.

“I didn’t expect to lose like that. It’s funny, isn’t it? Thinking about it makes me wonder if I’ll even be able to sleep. By the way, where did you go? And I wonder which organization your young master will join this time? You…”

I cut her off as her words tumbled out.

“Friend, that’s enough.”

Only then did Jin Haryeong take a deep breath. After calming herself for a moment, she opened up about her feelings.

“When I saw you after losing yesterday, I almost cried.”

“It’s okay to lose once.”

Honestly, it’s okay to lose many times, as long as you have the will to keep moving forward. In the long run, these failures mean nothing, but at the time, why did it feel like the world was ending?

Perhaps that’s why youth feels more precious. Those were the times when even the smallest things made your whole body and mind react so intensely.

“I really don’t want to have such a weak heart already.”

“Let go of the burden of being the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter. The Leader is the Leader, and you are you. You can’t even enjoy yourself because of that pressure. You managed to place second in such a big tournament.”

Jin Haryeong smiled faintly.

“What’s this? Already feeling better?”

“Yeah. Seeing you trying so hard to cheer me up makes me feel good.”

“It’s easy. Making you feel better.”

“Keep doing it often from now on.”

She firmly believed that Seo Daeryong would join the Murim Alliance. Naturally, she thought I would live there with him too.

“I might return to my hometown.”

She looked surprised at that.

“Return? Why?”

She stared at me for a moment before asking cautiously.

“Is there a girl back home? Someone you like?”

“There is.” 2

She flinched at my response. Maybe it was because I answered too easily that she seemed skeptical.

“There’s a woman prettier than you.”

“Prettier than me? Then your credibility just dropped significantly.”

“You’re the most beautiful in Hubei, right? She’s the most beautiful in the world.”

She relaxed and laughed, thinking I was teasing her.

“Make sure to show me that world’s most beautiful woman next time!”

“If there’s a chance.”

I wondered if there would ever be a day when Lee Ahn and Jin Haryeong would meet. It was something even I couldn’t foresee.

But I wonder what Lee Ahn is doing right now? She’s probably deeply immersed in her martial arts training even at this moment. Has she managed to break through her limits and reach the next level? Ah! I miss you, Lee Ahn!

After strolling through the inner garden, I returned to the banquet hall with Jin Haryeong.

When we arrived and peeked through the window, Seo Daeryong was surrounded by the elite of the next generation.

Though I couldn’t tell what they were truly thinking, they all smiled and were eager to build connections with Seo Daeryong. From now on, he would be joining one of the Murim Alliance’s core elite organizations and would continue to thrive.

“Our young master looks happy.”

No one was ignoring the short and gloomy-looking Seo Daeryong. They say clothes make the man, and indeed, he looked more distinguished than usual.

Yes, enjoy yourself to the fullest today.

As she watched Seo Daeryong, Jin Haryeong said to me.

“I’ve had so many conversations with you, yet I’ve barely spoken with your young master who actually beat me.”

“Go over and talk to him.”

“No, I’d rather stay here. What good would it do to go in? Just to be comforted again? Your consolation is enough for today!”

At that moment, someone new entered the banquet hall.

When I saw who it was, I was taken aback. Surprisingly, it was the very woman who had been cheering for Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong was also surprised to see her. Only those who were invited had been allowed to attend the banquet, yet here she was.

How had she managed to enter without an invitation? 3

Under everyone’s gaze, the woman slowly walked towards Seo Daeryong.

1 : F *a prayer*

2 : ^^

3 : Very resourceful…

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