Absolute Regression

Chapter 460: Now Is the Time to Ask Yourself

Geom Woojin was training in martial arts alone in the backyard.

Hui stood outside the wall, listening to the Cult Leader as he trained.

Because he was always by the Cult Leader’s side, only he knew. That the Cult Leader had recently been more dedicated to his martial arts training than ever before. And that the reason behind it was Geom Mugeuk.

The sound of the Cult Leader’s breathing, footsteps, leaping, swinging his sword, and emitting and retracting qi.

These were sounds he had heard for a very long time. Hui had never seen the Cult Leader training in martial arts directly, not even once. The Cult Leader had said it was fine to watch, but Hui, adhering to principles, only listened to the sounds without ever laying eyes on the training itself.

Even just through sound, Hui could tell. No—perhaps it was precisely because he listened only to the sounds that he could understand even better.

That the Cult Leader’s level had changed. The Cult Leader, who once believed there was nowhere higher to go—could it be that there was yet another realm beyond?

Indeed, the sound of the Cult Leader had changed.

When the round of training came to an end, someone arrived at the manor.

When Hui went out to check, it was Hwang In, who had come before.

“What brings you here?”

Hwang In, with a frightened expression, spoke to Hui.

“May I speak to the Sect Master directly?”

Hui brought him to the backyard.

“The Head of Hwangdo Trading Company has come.”

From beyond the wall, Geom Woojin’s voice rang out.

“Let him in.”

On the way there, Hwang In kept recalling what Geom Mugeuk had told him.

Don’t make eye contact. Be respectful.

“I greet the Sect Master.”

After a respectful bow, he spoke with his head lowered.

“Your son has been taken. By the person who came down to investigate this matter. The Young Cult Leader said he would cook for him, but he didn’t listen, so he insisted on doing it himself. No, that’s not it.”

As he rambled on in confusion, Hui cut in.

“Where is the place?”

“If you go about ten li west from the marketplace, there’s an old manor.”

This was originally the message Geum Arin was supposed to relay before coming here. Then Geom Mugeuk had interjected.

—If you explain it like that, won’t it be confusing? From which part of the marketplace is it ten li? Are there no forks in the road? Are there not other similar manors nearby? You need to explain in detail. ꭆä𝐍ȯ𝐁Ɛ𝐒

—Didn’t you say your father wouldn’t come?

At Geum Arin’s words, Geom Mugeuk pretended to be troubled.

—He’s such a heartless man, after all.

Hwang In could tell. Geom Mugeuk was secretly hoping his father would come.

‘But your hunch was right.’

Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, Geom Woojin didn’t seem the least bit worried—he didn’t even appear interested.

“He said to tell you to come. Alone.”

As if that was enough, Hui spoke.

“Understood. You may go now.”

Hwang In, who had turned away, stopped in his tracks. He felt that unless he somehow brought Geom Woojin with him, Geom Mugeuk wouldn’t survive. And if Geom Mugeuk died, so would he.

“Your son’s internal energy has been suppressed.”

Even that didn’t work.

“He told me countless times to explain the location of the manor clearly so there would be no confusion. He was truly desperate and earnest!”

Even his exaggerated desperation failed to move him.

Receiving the same cold reaction, Hwang In bowed his head in farewell and turned to leave.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

Hui knew the Cult Leader better than anyone. He wasn’t the type to go out of his way for something the Young Cult Leader could handle on his own.

But Geom Woojin showed Hui once again that the changes in him were not limited to just the sound of martial arts training.

Just then, Geom Woojin called out to Hwang In, who had walked some distance away.

“Did you finish your grocery shopping?”

At first, confused by the unexpected question, Hwang In quickly answered.

“Yes! Even with his internal energy suppressed, he bought plenty of groceries with both hands full. Vegetables, meat, even fruit for dessert.”

Perhaps it was that image that came to mind—Geom Woojin smiled faintly.

“Lead the way.”

In truth, the one more surprised than Hwang In was Hui.

Silently following behind Geom Woojin, Hui sensed that protecting him would now become even more difficult.

If the Cult Leader changed, then he too would have to change in order to protect him.

Even so, this change seemed to be a welcome one for Hui. For as he followed, a rare smile—one as precious and rare as the Cult Leader’s—graced his lips.

*         *         *

The meeting place was an old manor in a secluded, quiet area.

As soon as Geum Arin returned, she positioned ambushes throughout the manor.

They were the ones she had brought down with her this time. Their number wasn’t large, but they were all masters skilled in ambush tactics.

They were stationed all around. On the trees, on rooftops, behind buildings. With their wealth of experience, they found their positions naturally.

Even if their ambush was somehow fended off, it would be impossible to stop her own strike that followed through the gap. The opponent would not be leaving this place alive.

Whether he understood the severity of the situation or not, Geom Mugeuk came out from the kitchen carrying utensils.

‘Is he seriously going to cook in a situation like this?’

Just as he had defied expectations by going grocery shopping, Geom Mugeuk began preparing to cook in the midst of a heavily secured manor.

He lit a fire in the yard, took out bowls and utensils, and washed them in clean water.

Then, with skilled hands, he began preparing the ingredients. Geum Arin watched with a mind that questioned, how far will you go?

As he peeled an onion, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Every time I cook, it feels like I’m learning martial arts. Lighting the fire, washing the dishes, pondering what ingredients to use, adding this seasoning, that ingredient—experimenting. And once the best recipe is found, repeating it. What do you think? Isn’t it similar to martial arts?”

“If you force the comparison like that, then what wouldn’t it resemble?”

At Geum Arin’s cold reaction, Geom Mugeuk laughed and admitted.

“You’re right. Playing an instrument, painting, going out to work every day—everything’s quite similar.”

As he spoke, Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes, as if the onion’s sting was too much. Watching tears leak from his eyes, Geum Arin felt that at least one thing was certain.

’A martial artist crying while peeling onions? I’ve truly never met someone like this before.’

Most martial artists were like that onion. People whose insides were impossible to read.

They either hid their outer selves or concealed their inner selves.

Pretending to be strong when they were weak, or acting weak when they were strong.

But this man was a new type entirely. He didn’t seem weak, nor did he appear strong.

That’s why no decision could be made. That’s why she was watching this absurd situation that kept defying her sense of normalcy.

“To be honest, I’m better at cooking than my father. Thanks to that, you’ll be eating a tastier dish.”

It was then.

Before she realized it, Geum Arin’s gaze turned toward the back.

She wasn’t the only one. The eyes of those hidden in ambush also naturally turned to the same gate she had looked toward.

Since when had he been there? Just outside the wide-open gate stood a man with his hands clasped behind his back.

It was Geom Woojin.

For a moment, silence swept through the air.

Geum Arin’s heartbeat became so intense, she could hear it echo in her ears.

He hadn’t released any form of qi, nor had he glared with killing intent, but her entire body stiffened as though frozen.

Why was this happening? The man hadn’t done anything.

Even those who had hidden themselves could feel it—everyone’s focus had been drawn to that single man who stood there so composed, hands behind his back. His mere presence was drawing in their nerves like a vortex.

The one to break the breathless silence was Geom Mugeuk.

“Father! You’ve come to rescue your son! I knew it! I always believed you weren’t the kind of heartless man who would abandon his child!”

The corners of Geom Woojin’s mouth curled into a sneer. A sneer that told his son: ’Rescue you? I’ve come for those fools who are playing games with you.’

Geom Woojin slowly stepped inside. Hwang In followed cautiously behind him.

As Geom Woojin entered the yard, someone revealed themselves between him and Geum Arin.

The masked man with white hair was none other than Lim Hyuk, the bodyguard who had protected Geum Arin since her childhood.

“Please go now, my lady.”

Lim Hyuk had lived a long life as a martial artist and had encountered many formidable warriors. But this was the first time he had ever felt such primal danger. The fact that the opponent had not revealed even a sliver of qi made it all the more terrifying.

Shiiiing!

A hidden weapon flew toward Geom Woojin. Under normal circumstances, someone would have shouted, “Attack harder, all together!”

Clang!

The one who threw himself to deflect the hidden weapon was, surprisingly, Lim Hyuk. He hurled himself to block the second and third flying weapons as well.

“Cease the attack! Stop!”

He called off the ambush. He had realized their surprise attack would not work on this opponent. It was a gut instinct—a warning that they must not provoke him.

‘If we provoke him, we’ll be annihilated!’

His snow-white hair symbolized his years and experience, and in this moment, his excellent judgment proved it true.

“Everyone, fall back!”

At Lim Hyuk’s command, all those lying in ambush retreated.

Geum Arin leapt into action. She hadn’t fled at his words.

Instead, she moved behind Geom Mugeuk and pressed her sword to his neck. A clear message: if they touched Lim Hyuk, she would kill Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.

“There was a reason you’ve survived this long.”

He meant that Lim Hyuk had protected her well.

As the tension thickened—

“Put the sword away.”

Geom Woojin’s quiet words carried an absolute authority that none dared disobey.

Lim Hyuk’s judgment held firm to the end.

Without hesitation, he sheathed his sword. After all, sometimes a sword could protect someone more when returned to its scabbard.

Then he looked at Geum Arin. His eyes said it all: Do as you’re told.

Geum Arin withdrew her sword. But she did not step away from Geom Mugeuk.

As if nothing had happened, Geom Mugeuk spoke to his father.

“Today, I’ll cook for you.”

“Did you buy enough?”

“Yes, I bought plenty, just in case.”

Those words—just in case—held the implication that he had anticipated his father might come. That he had hoped for it.

And then—

Geom Woojin rolled up his sleeves and stepped up beside Geom Mugeuk.

He quietly began trimming the vegetables. He was helping his son cook.

Geom Mugeuk stared at his father in surprise before quietly focusing on cooking.

He was so overwhelmed with surprise and emotion that he couldn’t even joke.

Cooking together with his father.

It was something he was doing for the first time since returning through regression. There had been many things he wanted to do with his father, but he never expected the moment would come where they would prepare a meal together.

And the fact that this wasn’t a moment he made, but one his father created—made it all the more moving.

‘Father, thank you.’

Geum Arin, her expression frozen, watched the scene unfold.

Lim Hyuk’s intervention meant he had sensed a power from the opponent that she hadn’t been able to perceive before.

‘Just who are these people?’

She had never heard of a father and son like them in the entire martial world.

—Do not act rashly, no matter what.

It was a sound transmission from Lim Hyuk. Never before had she seen him so afraid, so tense. Yet she herself hadn’t felt such a sense of danger—at least not to this extent.

A short while later, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin completed their cooking.

Geom Mugeuk called out one last person.

“Uncle.”

Then, between Lim Hyuk and Geom Woojin, Hui released his concealment and revealed himself.

“Gasp!”

Lim Hyuk let out a short cry. Geum Arin had never seen him react with such shock to someone’s appearance before.

It wasn’t that he was surprised to see Hui—it was the level of his concealment technique that stunned him.

Lim Hyuk had no idea the man had been hidden just a few steps away from him.

Others might vaguely think, he must be impressive, but only he understood. The skill it took for someone to reveal themselves just now—it was concealment art on another level.

A move that would leave the more skilled all the more astounded. That was how flawless Hui’s stealth was.

And that wasn’t the only surprise. The aura Hui carried marked him as a master. He was clearly a bodyguard. And bodyguards could recognize one another.

‘I’ve never seen a bodyguard this powerful in my life.’

Just who was he protecting?

His strength matched the overwhelming presence of the man who had appeared before him.

Naturally, Lim Hyuk’s gaze shifted to Geom Woojin.

It was clear. Whoever that man was, his name would be one that anyone in the martial world would recognize.

Then Hui looked at Lim Hyuk. Between guards who had spent their lives in loyalty and service, there was a silent language. A way to know what kind of guard the other was. What kind of life they had lived.

That must have been why Hui sent this silent transmission.

—Do you wish to protect your master? Then stop. Your thoughts, your actions. And keep your mouth shut.

Lim Hyuk understood. This was advice to entrust everything to them. Not advice given to just anyone.

And so, everyone sat around the table. Hui, Lim Hyuk, and even Hwang In took their seats.

“Now then, let’s eat.”

Geom Woojin began to eat the food.

“How does it taste?”

Geom Mugeuk asked, nervous. He had been the main cook today, with his father only assisting. The Young Cult Leader cooking while the Heavenly Demon assisted. Truly, an unforgettable day in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—and for the two of them personally.

“Not bad.”

From his father, such a comment was on par with saying, This is exquisite.

This time, Geom Mugeuk turned to Geum Arin.

“Why are you not eating, lady? Please, have some. A dish made by my father and me—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

But Geum Arin had yet to pick up her chopsticks.

She was still in turmoil. The situation had ended before she could do anything. Everything had spiraled out of her control. She was someone who knew how to restrain herself in times like this—but this moment...

‘What on earth is going on?’