Absolute Regression

< Chapter 24: What Will Happen, Happens >

There was some time before I officially took up the position of Underworld Pavilion Leader. In the meantime, I decided to take care of one matter.

I intended to provide the best treatment for the warriors who would join the Haunted Shade Corps in the future. Instead of squeezing their youth under the guise of loyalty, I would reward them with a monthly salary commensurate with their abilities.

Whether they squandered their money, bought land and houses, or prepared for old age, as long as they didn’t gamble, it didn’t matter.

For this, a large amount of funds was necessary, and I knew how to make a lot of money around this time.

After leaving a note for Lee Ahn saying I was going out for a bit of fresh air, I secretly left the cult.

My life was one lived with regression in mind.

I spent most of my time busily and strenuously searching for the materials for the Grand Return Technique, but I also remembered the events that I needed to remember. I knew exactly when and where various events that took place over the decades in the martial world would occur, especially those that I could utilize.

This time, the event was to take place in a village near Mount Wuyi in Fujian Province. An incident I must not miss would occur there.

I ran to that place using the Star Light Step of the Wind God’s Four Steps, intending to train it along the way. Although I was just starting to learn it, the more I ran, the more I became immersed in its profundity.

When I rested, I gazed at the distant plains, lost in old thoughts. If sand and dust blown by the wind from the horizon came my way, I would get up and run again.

To match the day of the incident, some days I ran excitedly, and other days I ran slowly.

After running like that, I arrived at the village at the foot of Mount Wuyi.

There was a story I heard from an old wanderer during my days as a vagabond.

He used to run a wanderers’ office, making a living off the commissions. An incident occurred back then—one he would always sigh about when drunk, starting with “It was a terrible thing.” That incident would happen here today.

I asked a merchant where the wanderers’ office was located.

At the end of the marketplace, there was an old building where the wanderers gathered.

When I entered, about a dozen wanderers were sitting in a cramped space that felt suffocating. Some were dozing against the wall, some were tending to their weapons, and others were chatting in groups of three or four. A few glanced at me but quickly lost interest and looked away. ȐÃNỗ₿ЕṨ

I walked over to a middle-aged man sitting at a corner desk, writing something.

Upon seeing him, my heart welled up. He was none other than Im Chu (林秋), who had informed me of today’s events during my wanderer days.

“Do you have work?” I asked.

Im Chu raised his head at my question.

“A new face? Who recommended you?”

“Brother Seo Muina told me to come.”

“What’s your relation with Seo Muin?”

“We’ve worked together before.”

“What work?”

“I helped him with a task in Hengshan.”

“The Sondongpa incident?”

“No, it was Namakpa.”

Even though he knew, he asked incorrectly. He was cautious, trying to verify my identity in a place where all kinds of people gathered. But I had come prepared.

“If it’s Seo Muin’s recommendation, I can trust it. Can you start working today?”

“Of course.”

“There’s a big job today. You’ve come at the right time. Go over there and wait. We’re still gathering people.”

I went to the spot he pointed out and sat down. Some wanderers glanced at me, but I didn’t meet their eyes.

After about an hour, the people for the mission had gathered. There were fifteen of us in total.

In my past life, Im Chu had mentioned that fifty wanderers were mobilized for this job. Wanderers often exaggerate when drinking.

Even so, having fifteen meant it was a big mission. Usually, only two or three wanderers were mobilized, maybe six or seven at most. Unless it was a dire situation, they didn’t use so many rough drifters.

“Liang Dang will be leading today.”

Liang Dang, who was introduced, was a seasoned wanderer with a long history.

“The pay is high, but it’s a dangerous job. Anyone who acts foolishly will die by my hand first. Keep that in mind.”

After warning everyone, Liang Dang approached me.

“Seo Muin’s recommendation?”

“Yes.”

“Can we trust your skills?”

“Do I need to prove myself by killing someone? Would that be you?”

I didn’t want to appear too submissive, so I responded confidently.

“Hey, don’t get cocky. In this world, your head can drop like morning dew if you mess up.”

Sensing he wanted to use me as an example to maintain order, I didn’t argue further.

“I’ll follow orders, don’t worry. I’m just here for the money.”

“We’ll see.”

With that, the fifteen wanderers boarded the prepared horses and wagons and set off.

After a few contacts, we finally identified the destination and met the woman and the boy.

Anyone could see from their resemblance that they were mother and son.

After meeting them, Liang Dang explained the mission.

“We need to escort these two safely to Nampyeong. We must move as quickly as possible.”

The fact that fifteen wanderers were mobilized for this escort mission meant that the woman and the boy held significant status. It also implied that they were in great danger.

The boy in the carriage looked at me through the window. He was a cute and handsome boy. I smiled and waved at him, and he bowed his head in greeting.

He seemed to have a good personality and was well-educated. The woman who was with him slightly bowed to me and then closed the curtains. Her face was full of anxiety and worry.

With that, the carriage carrying the two of them began to move. The wanderers rode their horses, escorting the carriage from the front and back.

The carriage only stopped when the horses became too exhausted to run any further.

As the horses rested, the people also took a break and had a light meal. Liang Dang distributed the prepared jerky to the wanderers. Separate food was given to the woman and the boy.

The wanderers received twice their usual pay for this mission. Liang Dang, who was leading them, probably pocketed several times more. Perhaps that’s why he was so tense about completing this mission safely.

“You never know when we’ll get to eat again, so make sure to eat well!”

After resting for about half an hour, the carriage set off again.

How long had it been since we started?

One of the wanderers fell off his running horse.

“Stop!”

The wanderers stopped and checked on the fallen man. He was dead, foaming at the mouth, his face blackened.

“He’s dead.”

The wanderer reporting was shocked as he looked at his companions. They were also shocked, their eyes bloodshot, and their faces turning black.

“Poison?”

As soon as that word was spoken, they clutched their throats and fell backward.

“Ugh.”

The faces and bodies of the wanderers turned black as they collapsed one by one.

Only three people remained standing: Liang Dang, another wanderer, and me.

I could tell from the way the two of them looked at me.

‘These guys poisoned the food!’

This was something even I hadn’t known. In the past, Im Chu had told me that the wanderers were ambushed by external forces and that their bodies were never found. I never suspected that the leader had poisoned the food.

They must have disposed of all the bodies to hide the fact that they used poison.

“Why aren’t you dead?”

Liang Dang glared at me with a shocked face and asked.

“I didn’t eat the jerky you gave me. How could I eat food from someone I met for the first time today?”

Even though many things had changed since I regressed, some things remained unchanged. Just as the assistant chief was destined to die that day from the poison he put in the rice, so too was the fate of these wanderers’ deaths today.

Even though I tried to prevent unnecessary killings, some things were inevitable. What was meant to change would change, and what was meant to happen would happen. I am neither omniscient nor omnipotent ; I won’t be able to save every person I meet. Buf if my efforts can save even one more life, I will never stop fighting for it.

Meanwhile, both traitors simultaneously drew their swords.

“It would have been better if you had eaten it and died.”

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

Thunk!

Liang Dang’s sword pierced through the back of the other wanderer, coming out through his chest.

“Ugh!”

The man collapsed, spewing blood.

I shook my head and spoke to him.

“Are you an idiot? You should have killed him after making him face me. Do you even know my skills?”

“This guy is calculative and selfish, so he would never try to fight first. If I had to be the one to fight anyway… it was better to kill him while he was distracted by you.”

It seemed the two of them were of similar skill.

“What a pathetic life. Stabbing each other in the back like that, do you think your turn won’t come?”

“I won’t let anyone stand behind me, so don’t worry about that.”

“Why kill so many people and take their money? What are you planning to do with it?”

“There’s plenty to do. Drink, buy women.”

“You kill all these people just for that? The spirits of the dead will cling to you. Do you think you’ll even be able to stand with all that weight on your shoulders?”

“You moron. Worry about your own life!”

He had an ace up his sleeve, which was why he killed his comrade.

Four men appeared from the distance. Three of them were masked, while the man who seemed to be their leader was not. From their eyes and gait, it was clear they were skilled.

“Have you arrived?”

Liang Dang greeted them respectfully. From his tone and behavior, it seemed that it was these newcomers who had hired Liang Dang.

The unmasked man ignored Liang Dang and me entirely. He looked towards the carriage and shouted.

“Come out now, before we burn the carriage down with you two in it.”

The woman and the boy got out of the carriage, their faces filled with fear.

“How well you hid like a rat, it was a nightmare trying to find you.”

The woman pleaded with the man.

“Warrior Kwon, please, save just my child, I beg of you.”

The woman seemed to know the man well. The man, called Kwon, appeared to contemplate for a moment.

“Alright. For old times’ sake, I will spare you.”

As joy and hope crossed the woman’s face, Kwon revealed his vile nature.

“Ah, did you think it would be that easy? You wretched woman. It’s not enough for you to kneel and beg. How dare you act like a lord?”

Kwon laughed heartily, mocking her desperate maternal love.

The frightened child clung to the hem of his mother’s skirt. The woman’s expression hardened as she faced humiliation from someone who was once her subordinate. But her desire to save her child was stronger, so she pleaded again.

“If you save my child, I will give you ten times the money you are supposed to receive.”

“No matter how great money is, it cannot be more valuable than life. Your father has already been subdued and captured. It’s all over.”

At the news that her father had been subdued, the woman let out a bitter sigh.

At that moment, Kwon’s gaze shifted to me.

I was waving at the child, who looked like he was about to burst into tears, with a smile just like when we first met.

Finding the scene incongruent with the situation, Kwon asked Liang Dang.

“Who’s that guy? Wasn’t he a subordinate?”

Everyone’s attention turned to me. Especially in the eyes of the woman holding the child, there was a desperate hope for an unexpected twist.

I slowly walked forward and stood in front of the woman and child.

“I am someone who was paid to escort these two to their destination. I am also the one who has to protect them.”

At that moment, the woman clutched onto a rope made from celestial silk as if grabbing at a lifeline.

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