Absolute Regression

Chapter 454: To Persuade My Father

Joo Hyangwol returned home.

As expected, her mother had been waiting for her return.

“How did it go?”

Before answering, Joo Hyangwol asked her mother a question.

“You knew that Hwang In was bringing the agreement today, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t.”

Did she really not know? The first thing that came to mind was doubt. That was the current state of her relationship with her mother.

“So? Did you draft the agreement?”

From this reaction alone, it was clear just how much her mother was rushing things.

She should have said it like this.

—He handed you the agreement? Without even sending it to us in advance?

Then she should have asked with concern.

—You didn’t sign that agreement, did you?

But now her mother was looking at her with worried eyes. As if to say, “You didn’t actually sign that agreement?”

She recalled the paper she had tucked into her sleeve. She had written everything she wanted to say to her mother, exactly as Geom Mugeuk had advised.

And it wasn’t just writing it down. She anticipated various situations and wrote down how to respond in each case. This situation was one of them.

“No, I put it off.”

Disappointment flickered across her mother’s face. She had even prepared words for that reaction, having anticipated it.

Fortunately, her mother had a personality that made her somewhat predictable. That’s why they argued so often, and yet could never truly hate each other.

That’s why, at the very top of everything she had written, she had included this line.

Absolutely do not raise your voice! Speak gently!

Because every time she raised her voice during conversations with her mother, they never ended well. She knew full well that her emotions conveyed better when she spoke calmly and with firm, low tones—but with her mother, that was always hard to do.

But today, she was doing well.

“This is something that needs to be handled carefully.”

Even if she told her mother what had happened earlier at the inn, she would never accept it. Entrusting an agreement to someone you’ve just met would have made her mother leap to her feet in outrage. ṟåＮỘ𝐛Èꞩ

“I need to learn more about the Hwangdo Trading Company, and have a professional review the agreement to make sure there are no terms that would disadvantage us.”

In the past, she would have surely added:

‘Did you even check properly? Of course not. You always do things this way.’

That would have been the spark that ignited an argument, the prologue to them raising their voices at each other. But that line was not written on the paper today.

It seemed her mother hadn’t expected to hear her talk about handing it over to a professional. With a surprised look, she asked:

“What professional?”

“I’ll tell you when the results come out.”

She said what she needed to, more calmly than ever before.

“I know that things are hard at the main house right now. All the more reason why I think we need to be careful.”

The emotion behind the puzzled look in her mother’s eyes was clear. Since when have you ever been cautious? Since when did you ever care about the family’s struggles?

In the past, she would’ve snapped back sharply. But instead, she spoke even more gently.

“I’ve grown up now, haven’t I? I’ll do my best to help you from now on, Mother.”

She bowed to her mother and stepped outside. Her mother was taken aback by her strangely changed demeanor and was left speechless.

Once outside, Joo Hyangwol let out a sigh.

She pulled the paper from her sleeve. She hadn’t even said a quarter of what she had written, but the conversation had clearly gone differently from usual. Whether she wrote it down or not—there was definitely a difference.

‘Ah! I forgot to say this.’

She had even underlined the part about reminding her mother not to stress too much about family matters and to eat well before she left, yet she had walked out without saying it.

Still, today, neither of them had raised their voices.

*         *         *

Hwang In had been trained from a young age not to reveal his emotions. He had learned that this was the most important quality for a merchant to have.

But at least in this moment, it was difficult to hide how he felt.

It was when he stood before Jeon Nak.

He was the devil with whom he had shaken hands.

—He’s far too dangerous. You must not join hands with them.

When his father had tried to stop him, he had replied,

—I don’t want to live the rest of my life as the Division Leader of some backwater trading company.

Because he didn’t want that kind of life. Because he had the ambition to make Hwangdo Trading Company the greatest in the Central Plains.

So the one he took hands with was this Jeon Nak. And once he did, he clearly understood something. That he was the same type of person as Jeon Nak.

The only difference was that Jeon Nak wielded a sword, and he held an abacus. That when Jeon Nak glared coldly, he simply smiled. But ultimately, he and Jeon Nak were the same.

That must’ve been why Hwangdo Trading Company had grown so rapidly after joining hands with Jeon Nak.

And he had come to realize one thing: Jeon Nak was also nothing more than a subordinate carrying out someone else’s orders. He came to understand that naturally, through their conversations.

He did worry at times—just what had he gotten himself caught up in? But it was already too late to turn back. All that remained was the choice: become the greatest trading company under heaven, or die at Jeon Nak’s hands.

“The agreement fell through?”

As always, Jeon Nak spoke in a courteous and soft tone.

But whenever Hwang In heard his voice, it sent chills down his spine.

Because he knew. He knew Jeon Nak was a butcher without blood or tears. Because even if they spent the next thirty years as allies, he knew that when the time came to kill him, Jeon Nak would do so without the slightest hesitation.

“That’s right.”

“Didn’t you say you were confident about this one?”

“They brought in an outsider to the Sword Family.”

“Who?”

“The Seodo Sect of Gansu. Apparently, the Master of the Seodo Sect was once indebted to the deceased head of the Sword Family.”

As Geom Mugeuk had predicted, he didn’t act directly but used an informant to identify them. It had taken less time than expected. The informant already had information on them.

When he realized the opposing group was the Seodo Sect, Hwang In felt relieved.

The ones he had met at the inn gave off a strange feeling. A subtle composure that he couldn’t quite explain had lingered in his mind, and now he could finally guess its origin.

‘So they come from the family that produced the winner of the Soaring Dragon Tournament?’

That inexplicable ease had come from that. And because of it, he felt relieved.

‘If that’s all it is?’

They were opponents he could handle with confidence.

Jeon Nak spoke in a dry tone.

“Understood. I’ll take care of it.”

Hwang In knew what he meant by "take care of it." He would kill the three from the Seodo Sect and retrieve the agreement. Jeon Nak always preferred clean resolutions.

But this time, Hwang In wanted to handle things himself.

“The Seodo Sect may be a local group, but producing a winner at the Soaring Dragon Tournament gave them ties to the Martial Alliance. If we carelessly provoke them, the Martial Alliance might step in. This matter needs to be handled cautiously.”

That was precisely why Geom Mugeuk had deliberately chosen the Seodo Sect for their cover. Not to resolve it with force, but to prompt the enemy to try a different approach. Through them, Geom Mugeuk intended to uncover who was pulling the strings behind all this.

“Please lend me the Money Ghosts.”

The money demons. That was what Jeon Nak called his elite fighters.

They were like literal ghosts when it came to money. Whenever they moved, everything got resolved.

The stubborn changed their minds, those who raised swords met with accidents, and the ones who hurled insults went missing.

In short, once they moved, a contract with a signature would be in your hands by the next day.

“I believe this time calls for merchants, not martial artists. If I can’t resolve it through persuasion, then it still won’t be too late to carry out the original plan.”

At last, Jeon Nak opened his mouth.

“How many do you need?”

“Just enough to subdue the Master of the Seodo Sect.”

Hwang In spoke with a look that asked for trust.

“Don’t worry. When has a merchant ever made a losing deal?”

That evening, Hwang In visited Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk and his group were staying in a small manor, a little ways off from the marketplace.

From Hwang In’s perspective, it was fortunate they hadn’t chosen to stay in an attention-drawing inn.

Hwang In, while handling this matter, wanted to see Geom Mugeuk plead. Telling him to pay for the inn stay? Asking if a merchant shouldn’t be precise with his accounting? He had felt ashamed when the innkeeper was called over and paid. To think someone would dare speak of a merchant’s math in front of him!

He didn’t plan to kill the man, but he certainly intended to mock him thoroughly before letting him go. When they had parted ways at the inn, he had said, “I’m someone who always repays his debts.”

Led by Hui, he stepped into the courtyard where Geom Mugeuk was working on something among the trees.

“Welcome!”

Geom Mugeuk greeted him warmly. He acted as if he had completely forgotten what had happened at the inn—someone watching might think they were close friends.

“You’ve come at just the right time. Hold this rope for me.”

Caught off guard, Hwang In took the rope Geom Mugeuk handed him. Geom Mugeuk tied the other end to a tree on the opposite side.

Suspended between the two trees was a net large enough to lie in—enough to fit an adult.

“A net bed. It’s a temporary bed made for sleeping in areas full of poisonous insects.”

A bit farther off, another one had already been set up.

“That one’s for my father. Tonight, I plan to lie here next to him and gaze up at the night sky.”

Just thinking about it made Geom Mugeuk smile in delight.

“You seem to really like your father.”

“Of course. My father may not trust me, but I love him more than anyone else in the world.”

Geom Mugeuk said it loud enough to be heard inside the building. He knew that even a whisper could be heard from here, but no response came from inside.

“Well, it’s finished now. Let’s try lying down.”

Geom Mugeuk lay on the net. As he shifted his body, the net swayed gently between the trees.

“It’s incredibly comfortable.”

Hwang In looked down quietly at Geom Mugeuk.

He had felt it even at the inn—this man wasn’t someone you came across often. Maybe that’s why he didn’t expect to get asked something like this even in such a moment.

“What about your father?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question about his father, Hwang In was a little flustered.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, doesn’t your father ever surprise you? I was shocked then. I didn’t think he would step forward for that woman.”

Hwang In didn’t know what to say about his father.

‘Father is...’

His father had joined hands with Jeon Nak at his son’s request. Was it a choice made for his child’s sake? Or did his father harbor the same ambitions he did? Hwang In couldn’t be sure of his father’s true thoughts.

“I think a father might just be the easiest and yet also the hardest person in the world to understand.”

Hwang In didn’t say anything in response to Geom Mugeuk’s words.

Then, all of a sudden, Geom Mugeuk sat up from the net bed.

“You should lie down too.”

“I’m fine.”

“I said, lie down.”

He forced Hwang In to lie down on it.

“Look up at the sky from there. How is it?”

It was his first time lying on such a bed, and it was more comfortable than he’d expected.

Then suddenly, the thought struck him—this isn’t the time to be doing this—and he tried to sit up.

But as he swayed and nearly collapsed to the ground, Geom Mugeuk caught him.

“Thank you.”

“You’re just not used to it yet.”

What he wasn’t used to was Geom Mugeuk’s attitude. Compared to earlier at the inn, he was treating him with far more friendliness.

“You do realize this won’t just blow over because of this, right?”

When Hwang In looked up, there were three men standing on the wall, arms crossed, staring down at them.

They were the Money Ghosts he had brought with him. Even among them, these were the ones Jeon Nak favored. They were masters capable of easily subduing someone like the Master of a regional faction such as the Seodo Sect.

“You said you were just a merchant, but you’re clearly not an ordinary one.”

“There are too many who look down on merchants and try to solve everything with force, so I’ve had no choice but to ask for some help.”

“If that’s the reason, you could have come alone. As you can see, I’m someone who prefers talking over fighting.”

Hwang In stared at Geom Mugeuk.

‘Just what are you relying on?’

Even with warriors capable of killing his father in tow, Geom Mugeuk showed no sign of intimidation or fear. Could it be that he didn’t even understand the situation he was in?

“If I give the order, they’ll take the agreement by force.”

Then Geom Mugeuk said something entirely unexpected.

“Will those three be enough? To get my father to draw his sword, you’d need about three hundred of that kind.”

At that, the Money Ghosts all scoffed simultaneously.

They were indeed skilled, but not enough to see through Geom Mugeuk’s true depth. The bigger problem was that they already thought they knew his identity.

The heir of the Seodo Sect.

Because they had already pegged him as that, he just seemed laughable. Especially after hearing from Hwang In that he had quite the silver tongue.

“If you hand over the agreement and apologize politely, nothing will happen.”

“My father will never give it up. He already made a promise to that woman.”

“If you want to save your father, then go and persuade him yourself.”

Then Geom Mugeuk let out a sigh and said,

“That’s impossible. To persuade my father, it takes at least five years.”

‘Five years?’ What the hell is he saying? Hwang In gave him a puzzled look, but Geom Mugeuk still looked completely at ease.

At that moment, the three men who had been watching from atop the wall leapt down.

“If they start to move, I won’t be able to stop them. This is your last chance. Go and persuade your father—bring back the agreement.”

One of the three Money Ghosts stepped forward.

“There’s no need for all three of us to go. I’ll get it myself. I’ll drag your old man out and toss him onto that net bed.”

As he strode toward the building, Geom Mugeuk remained leisurely lying in the net bed.

“You’re not worried about your father?”

“Even if I worried about everyone in the world, there’s exactly one person I never need to worry about.”

Hwang In guessed the source of this composure.

‘Is he counting on the Martial Alliance to protect him?’

He began to think that maybe that was it. Confidence that no one would dare lay hands on a faction that produced the winner of the Soaring Dragon Tournament. Yes, that had to be all the Seodo Sect had to lean on.

‘That half-baked pride is what ruined you people!’

How much time had passed?

The first Money Ghost who went inside showed no sign of returning. There wasn’t even the sound of a scuffle or a shout—nothing. The building remained utterly silent.

Growing impatient, the second Money Ghost stepped up.

“I’ll go check.”

He walked into the building. In terms of skill, he was on par with the first, and he had an even calmer temperament.

But he too never returned.

The last remaining Money Ghost’s expression hardened. He realized something had gone wrong. All three of them should have gone in together from the beginning.

“It could be a trap!”

At Hwang In’s warning, the third Money Ghost replied coldly.

“Then what makes you think it’s any safer out here?”

With that, the third Money Ghost drew his sword and carefully entered the building.

The three ferocious men had all entered, and yet, not even the sound of a chair falling over could be heard. That silence was far more terrifying and unsettling.

And still, there was no news from the third Money Ghost.

Hwang In’s gaze, full of fear, shifted from the building to Geom Mugeuk.

At last, Geom Mugeuk sat up from the net bed. Far in the distance, dusk had begun to fall. Like ink spreading across a paper, the red hue began to bleed into the world, and the sky seemed even more vast.

With a mysterious light in his eyes that reflected the setting sun, Geom Mugeuk asked calmly,

“If you’re truly a merchant, shouldn’t you be negotiating, not waving blades and making threats?”