Absolute Regression

Chapter 456: If You Kill Me, a Terrifying Person Will Come

There are days like this.

Days when the stars seem especially lonely, and the moonlight feels cold.

Days when a sense of ominous foreboding wraps around your whole body, and a strong discomfort and sense of wrongness overwhelms you, as if you’re in a place you should never be.

That moment was now.

And the source of all that unease lay in the man resting on that net bed. The man who made you feel this way simply by watching the night sky together.

That someone with such presence was merely the head of a local dockside sect? That couldn’t be true.

And there was one more thing.

The three Money Ghosts who had accompanied Hwang In earlier were nowhere to be seen.

‘I walked into a tiger’s den.’

This wasn’t because his instincts were particularly sharp. It was the presence of that man that forced out a premonition that otherwise wouldn’t have even formed.

‘Stay calm.’

Jeon Nak stilled his heart and regulated his internal energy. Yes, there had always been crises. And each time, he had somehow survived and made it this far. He had to trust in those instincts.

At that moment, Hwang In, who had come with him, spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

“I’ve come with approval for this trading company to invest in your gang. Let’s sign the agreement immediately.”

If he was as quick-witted as expected, he’d understand what he was really saying.

Hwang In, for his part, was tense. He was still within arm’s reach of Jeon Nak.

With a glance, he told Geom Mugeuk,

‘I brought him—now kill him quickly!’

He still stood in the middle of the scale. Once it tipped clearly, he’d throw his weight to that side. Until one of them died, he wasn’t on anyone’s side. RΆɴÒᛒÈš

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and asked,

“Who is the man with you?”

Jeon Nak humbly introduced himself.

“I serve Division Leader Hwang.”

Jeon Nak scrutinized Geom Mugeuk properly. If the ominous premonition he felt about the middle-aged man lying in that net bed was right, then this young man before him shouldn’t be underestimated either.

The bright and innocent impression he’d felt earlier now came across as the composure of a true master.

Naturally, his resentment turned to Hwang In.

‘Where the hell did this bastard bring me?’

To be precise, he had chased after him of his own accord.

Geom Mugeuk said to Hwang In,

“With someone this formidable at your side, do you really need us?”

Speaking as if he had recognized his skill at a glance, Hwang In replied with forced calm.

“Each person has their own use, don’t you think?”

“Well said. Now, let’s go in and draft the agreement.”

He should’ve done that from the start. Hwang In, feeling relieved, began to step toward Geom Mugeuk.

“Please wait a moment.”

Jeon Nak respectfully held Hwang In back. It came from the thought that he must not hand Hwang In over to them under these circumstances.

“Division Leader Hwang.”

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you say you left my subordinates outside? Yet I don’t see them anywhere.”

At that, Hwang In turned to Geom Mugeuk and asked,

“Where are those men?”

It was a genuine question. What had really happened to them?

“They’re inside the manor waiting for you to return. I asked them to join me for some stargazing, but they just ignored me and went back in.”

The lie was told so casually that Hwang In was inwardly dumbfounded. He recalled the moment the Money Ghosts had vanished. That house was a man-eating house. Once someone went in, they never came out.

“I’ll head inside to draft the agreement and let them know you’ve arrived.”

Hwang In hastily tried to go in, while Jeon Nak turned to leave.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait outside the manor. Once the agreement is signed, come out and we’ll leave together.”

All Jeon Nak could think about was getting out of there. Honestly, not once since becoming a martial artist had he been this frightened without his opponent even issuing a threat. And that was what made it even more terrifying.

But Geom Mugeuk didn’t let him go so easily.

“Since you’re here, won’t you come in and share a drink with us?”

Jeon Nak didn’t need instincts or a sixth sense to realize the danger he was in.

He wasn’t the type of person anyone would casually invite for a drink. He was the type people avoided, the kind you’d rather not see. And yet, someone was asking him to drink?

“Shall I?”

Jeon Nak turned around and naturally walked over to Hwang In’s side.

‘If I go in, I’ll die.’

At the same time, Jeon Nak drew his sword.

His action was the signal. Outside the wall, ten Money Ghosts who had been standing by immediately leapt over the wall and landed inside.

Hwang In felt worry more than surprise that they had followed.

‘I can’t let him think I betrayed him!’

So Hwang In feigned complete ignorance as he asked,

“Why did you bring your subordinates?”

Jeon Nak’s eyes as he looked at Hwang In were cold.

“I arrive, and none of my men come out to greet me? Unless they’re dead, that wouldn’t happen.”

He still spoke with courtesy.

That was precisely why Hwang In found Jeon Nak terrifying. Because he always handled things with that kind of calm and respectful demeanor. Just one line: ‘Leave it to me.’ That had always been enough for the matter to be resolved.

Now, that frightening courtesy was directed at him.

“Explain what happened.”

Even as the murderous intent faintly flickered in Jeon Nak’s gaze, Hwang In flatly denied everything.

“They were here when I left. Isn’t that right?”

Hwang In’s eyes toward Geom Mugeuk were desperate.

Please… just say that’s true.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Jeon Nak.

“The people who came with you are inside the manor. If you’re that suspicious, go in and see for yourself.”

He spoke with such calm that it almost seemed true.

Jeon Nak’s gaze shifted past Geom Mugeuk to Geom Woojin, who lay on the net bed with his eyes closed. Whether he was asleep or deep in thought was unclear, but just seeing him pulled at Jeon Nak’s nerves.

“Go check.”

Jeon Nak sent one of the Money Ghosts into the manor. Through voice transmission, he ordered him to carefully check if someone was hiding inside.

But there was no reply to that command. The Money Ghost who had gone in never came out.

“Perhaps they’re already drinking.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s casual remark, Jeon Nak’s eyes turned cold. This was the moment he realized there were more enemies than just the two before him.

‘We were completely played.’

The three subordinates he had first sent were among the best of the Money Ghosts.

Jeon Nak asked Geom Mugeuk,

“Who exactly are you people?”

“I’m Geom Yeon of the Seodo Sect. And this is my father.”

“No. You’re not the Seodo Sect.”

Jeon Nak raised his sword to Hwang In’s neck.

“Why are you doing this to me? We’re on the same side!”

The reason he believed Hwang In had lied was simple.

“Men of this caliber would never ally themselves with someone like you. You lured me here for them.”

His once courteous tone had vanished. It was the first time since they met.

“Even if I die, I’ll make sure you die first.”

Hwang In could tell this wasn’t an empty threat, which is why fear gripped him.

Now the only person he could rely on was Geom Mugeuk.

‘You’re not going to abandon me, are you?’

At that desperate look, Geom Mugeuk gave an unexpected reply.

“A skilled merchant buys this item and that one too. But he never leaves his business to luck.”

With those words, Hwang In realized it. Geom Mugeuk was rebuking him for trying to play both sides.

“I…”

He felt the chill of the blade at his throat.

If he declared he was on Geom Mugeuk’s side now, Jeon Nak would kill him. This mad butcher knew no mercy.

Whether Geom Mugeuk knew of the danger or not, his eyes beyond the blade demanded an answer.

Are you really the heir to the Mysterious Noble Family? If I choose you, can you save me?

This was the moment when he had to risk everything on one final judgment.

Not being a martial artist himself, he couldn’t tell who was stronger. He had to rely on instinct and intuition alone.

At last, Hwang In made his choice.

“I’ve already chosen you.”

The scale in Hwang In’s heart tipped toward Geom Mugeuk.

“So please… save me.”

Terrified that the sword at his neck might slice through him at any moment, Hwang In shut his eyes tightly. But today, the butcher’s sword was uncharacteristically cautious.

Geom Mugeuk demanded an answer once more.

“Who are those men trying to kill you?”

You really intend to push me to the edge of the cliff, don’t you?

He had already taken the first step—there was no going back now.

“These people deserve to die. Many innocent lives have been lost at their hands.”

“Wasn’t it you who ordered them?”

“Just because I allied with them doesn’t mean I’m free of blame, but I never ordered them to kill anyone, nor did I ever wish for it.”

“But thanks to them, the Hwangdo Trading Company must’ve grown.”

At those words, Hwang In couldn’t make any excuse. He had chosen to align with them. He simply hadn’t known they were this cruel.

He felt the coldness of the blade at his neck grow sharper.

Hwang In could feel it clearly—Jeon Nak had made up his mind to kill him.

‘Why hasn’t he killed me yet?’

What he didn’t realize was that this merciless Jeon Nak hadn’t cut him down yet because he intended to use him as a hostage—to secure even the slightest advantage.

At that moment, hopeful words came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

“There is a technique I’m practicing lately that could save you. And conveniently, there are ten of them.”

Why are you explaining that to the enemy? Just use it already! Now!

But that flicker of hope quickly turned into a thunderclap of despair.

“However, its accuracy is low… you might die in the process.”

A technique with poor accuracy? And you bring that up in this situation?

What Hwang In couldn’t know—

—that so-called “flawed” technique was none other than the Nine Calamities Demon Art - Fifth Form: Soul Severing Demonic Strike.

Hearing their conversation, Jeon Nak grew increasingly uneasy. He figured they wouldn’t mention such a technique unless it actually existed.

“So I was the real target from the beginning, wasn’t I?”

There was no way such masters would come after a mere trading company. No—more accurately, their target wasn’t him, but the higher power behind him.

In a way, this might have worked in his favor. Perhaps he could use that to escape from this place.

“If I die, a terrifying person will come. And when that happens, not even you will survive.”

Then Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Who is this terrifying person?”

“Someone who could kill people like you with ease. Kill me, and he’ll come.”

Looking into his eyes, which seemed to ask, Will you still kill me after this?, Geom Mugeuk turned to Hwang In and asked,

“Are you a lucky person?”

Hwang In let out a deep sigh.

“Would I be in this situation if I were lucky?”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to trust in my luck.”

What in the world was he talking about?

“Close your eyes.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Hwang In shut his eyes.

Blood trickled down from the blade Jeon Nak had pointed at Hwang In’s neck.

“If you move, this man dies!”

No matter who the enemy was, if someone had a sword to another’s neck, they’d kill them. If they made a move, Jeon Nak would slit Hwang In’s throat and fight.

The next moment!

Ten sword energies fell vertically.

Like a thunderclap, the ten slashes struck down directly onto the crowns of the Money Ghosts’ heads. Though the Money Ghosts varied in skill, in front of Soul Severing Demonic Strike, all were equal.

They collapsed like straw bundles, all at once.

When the first impact rang out, Hwang In was sure he was the one dying.

‘It’s over!’

His father had once told him: when a merchant gets entangled with martial artists, it never ends well. He should’ve stopped him more firmly back then.

The rising scent of blood made Hwang In slowly open his eyes.

And then he saw the astonishing sight before him.

All the Money Ghosts lay dead on the ground. Blood streamed from the tops of their heads. Even Jeon Nak, who had been holding a sword to his neck, had collapsed beside him—dead.

‘Jeon Nak is dead? That terrifying Jeon Nak? How…?’

It felt like he was dreaming. Hwang In stood there, dazed and vacant.

Just then, Geom Woojin, who had been lying on the net bed, sat up.

“With that sloppy technique, what if it had landed on that man’s head?”

“Then Father would’ve saved him.”

Realizing he meant it sincerely, Geom Woojin gave him a look that said, You actually believe that nonsense?

“While lying here on that net bed?”

“Yes. Because you’re my father.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of Geom Woojin’s lips. But this time, it wasn’t mockery—there was a warmth in his expression. His son’s trust had now surpassed even the Nine Calamities Demon Art.

“Only ten strands. Still a long way to go.”

With that, Geom Woojin walked back inside the building.

“Sleep well, Father.”

Shouting his farewell loudly, Geom Mugeuk then walked up to the dazed Hwang In.

“Are you alright?”

Finally coming to his senses, Hwang In fell to his knees and bowed deeply on the spot.

“Thank you for saving my life.”

His judgment had been correct. From now on, live or die, he had to follow these people. There was so much he wanted to know, so much he wanted to ask, but for now, only one worry filled Hwang In’s mind.

“But will it really be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t he say someone terrifying would come if he died?”

“That’s why I killed him.”

Not understanding what he meant, Hwang In stared wide-eyed as Geom Mugeuk said—

“As he said, kill him and that person will come. So I killed him.”

As if he wanted to meet that person.