Absolute Regression

Chapter 461: The Legend Came to Meet You?

"It’s that manor."

At the words of the martial artist seated at the coachman’s spot, Yong Jamyeong leaned his head out the window.

He could see the manor standing in a remote location.

Thinking of the person waiting in that place, his expression remained as calm as a lake, but inside, a quiet storm was blowing.

After countless hardships and storms, he had become the richest man in the world. He had once believed that nothing could faze him anymore—but now that his heart was pounding like this, it seemed he still had a long way to go.

Still, Yong Jamyeong never let his trembling show. The unease in Baek Chong, who sat across from him, was already more than enough.

"If anything happens, say the code word."

They had a code word prepared between them. Based on that word, Baek Chong had handled various emergencies.

Yong Jamyeong smiled and asked,

"When was the last time we ever used that?"

So long ago, in fact, he could barely remember when it had been.

His gaze turned again toward the window.

"We’ve lived so long without any tension."

At some point, the burden of tension had shifted to the other side.

And as if to punish that arrogance, tension had suddenly returned.

In the meantime, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

"We’ve arrived."

At the martial artist’s report from the coachman’s spot, Baek Chong looked over at the martial artist seated beside him. Without a word spoken, that man gave a nod, as if he already understood.

Yong Jamyeong had no intention of turning back. Now, the three of them had to protect the Leader. Though each of them was a supreme-level master, this time, they had staked their lives on the task. ṙåΝ𝙤𝐁Ɛṡ

"Just trust us."

With a firm voice, Baek Chong stepped out of the carriage first.

Next came Yong Jamyeong. His movements were calm and composed.

Then followed the martial artist who had been riding with them and the martial artist from the coachman’s seat.

The manor’s doors were closed.

They didn’t know what kind of trap might be waiting beyond that door.

Perhaps the Demon Supremes were lined up, waiting for them. The poison of the Poison King might be scattered around, and the massive saber of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon might come flying toward their heads. The Evil Smiling Demon might even watch them die and smile coldly.

Baek Chong exchanged glances with the other martial artists. They shared similar thoughts.

‘They asked to meet in a place like this?’

Judging by the trees and terrain nearby, it was a place well-suited for an ambush. Fortunately, the martial artists who had laid an ambush earlier had already withdrawn, so there was no risk of unnecessary misunderstandings.

What irritated Baek Chong even more was the fact that the meeting location had been changed when they were almost at the destination. Rather than the originally designated manor, they were suddenly told to go to another one to the west—according to a message from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion.

Baek Chong found all of it unacceptable. The fact that the Heavenly Communication Pavilion was monitoring them, and the sudden change in location at the last moment.

Baek Chong slowly walked up to the door and gently pushed it open. The door wasn’t locked.

Creeeeak.

As if with the sound of long passing years, the door opened.

And what lay before their eyes was an unexpected sight.

A table had been set in the yard, and people were eating.

Holding a ladle, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Anyone want more soup?”

It was Geom Mugeuk’s own way of welcoming the visitors. A meal was in progress—so don’t be tense!

Baek Chong stepped aside, and Yong Jamyeong walked forward from behind.

There weren’t name tags on the people at the table, but it was immediately clear who the Heavenly Demon was among them.

Even if dozens of people had been crammed into that yard eating, he would have recognized him.

Yong Jamyeong’s gaze turned to Geom Woojin.

It was the moment when the man known for having the greatest martial strength met the man known for having the greatest wealth. One would think there’d have been a chance to meet at least once before, but this was the first time. No—technically, the second.

While riding in the carriage, Yong Jamyeong had imagined what kind of first impression the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would leave.

Would he be frightening? Intimidating? Warmer than expected? Handsome?

But the first impression he got was none of those.

‘I know that face!’

It truly felt familiar, like someone he had seen somewhere before.

And that was it. He couldn’t remember where he’d seen him.

No—that wasn’t quite right. Since he had never seen the Heavenly Demon himself before, it was more accurate to say he couldn’t remember who it was that resembled him.

As someone who had reached the pinnacle of merchants, how many people had he met throughout his life? Far too many to remember each one.

‘I definitely saw someone who looked like him.’

But the thought couldn’t last long. He couldn’t keep staring at the Heavenly Demon’s face so boldly.

Geom Mugeuk could tell that he hadn’t recognized his father at first glance.

Well, it had been during both their younger days.

There was no way he would have thought the one who saved him back then could have been the Heavenly Demon. It was only natural.

Don’t worry. I’ll fulfill your lifelong wish. Before you return, I’ll make sure you remember.

And at that moment, Geom Mugeuk had a question.

‘Did Father recognize him?’

But it was impossible to tell from the Heavenly Demon’s expression.

Geom Mugeuk set the ladle down and stepped forward.

“Welcome, Company Head.”

Yong Jamyeong recognized it instantly. This young man was the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He bore a faint resemblance to the Heavenly Demon seated over there.

“I’m Geom Yeon of the Seodo Sect.”

The reason they had summoned Yong Jamyeong to this place today was to show that they had deep connections with the Galaxy Trading Company—and to use Geum Arin to immediately gain access to the core of their ranks.

They had considered disguising him as a member of the Galaxy Trading Company, but his father’s sheer presence made it impossible to convince anyone that he could be subordinate to someone else.

Instead, they planned to lure her in by making it seem like a mysterious sect was trying to ally with Yong Jamyeong.

“This is my father.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s introduction, Yong Jamyeong walked up to Geom Woojin. Baek Chong, standing behind him, had all his senses sharpened to the limit.

“I am Yong Jamyeong of the Galaxy Trading Company.”

At Yong Jamyeong’s greeting, Geom Woojin rose from his seat.

Geom Mugeuk and Hui quietly observed, surprised.

Normally, his father never stood to receive the head of a trading company—even if it was The Greatest Trading Company Under the Heavens.

But Geom Woojin greeted him with full courtesy.

“Thank you for coming.”

It was likely an expression of gratitude for responding immediately to his letter.

The moment Yong Jamyeong heard Geom Woojin’s voice, it felt like something slammed into his chest.

Excitement, anticipation, fear—none of these quite matched the strange and powerful feeling that surged up in him.

Was this what it would feel like if fate itself spoke to him?

It wasn’t the first time. He had felt this same sensation a few times before in his life. And each time, a great change had come.

Meanwhile, the name Yong Jamyeong left everyone present in shock.

Most of all, it was Geum Arin who was the most surprised.

‘That person is the head of the Galaxy Trading Company?’

She had never seen him in person. But she had heard countless stories about him.

Once, her father had described him like this:

—His power is not in wealth. He is someone whose name, Yong Jamyeong, became more powerful than money itself.

Though a merchant, he had gone beyond the stage of ruling people and the world through wealth. It was at that moment she had sensed her father’s jealousy.

She couldn’t believe someone like Yong Jamyeong had actually appeared here, so she looked toward her guard, Lim Hyuk.

Immediately, Lim Hyuk’s voice was transmitted to her mind.

—It truly is the head of the Galaxy Trading Company.

Lim Hyuk had seen him before. Though Geum Arin couldn’t remember, she had also seen him when she was younger.

Lim Hyuk’s expression hardened. Just with Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin, and Hui earlier, they had already encountered people far beyond their ability to handle.

And now, Yong Jamyeong had appeared?

In the upper circles of Trades, Yong Jamyeong was considered both the leader of the martial world and the Heavenly Demon himself.

‘What should I do?’

As Lim Hyuk tried to think fast, his eyes met Hui’s across the way. The meaning in Hui’s calm gaze was the same as the voice transmission he had sent earlier.

—Stop thinking. Stop moving. Keep your mouth shut.

Though the words dismissed him, Lim Hyuk could clearly feel it was a well-meaning warning.

It was the same now.

‘If you wish to live, don’t get involved. Don’t go against the current—let the waves carry you.’

Lim Hyuk gave Hui a faint nod and then looked toward the one he was meant to protect.

Geum Arin was staring at Geom Mugeuk.

‘That legendary figure came to meet you? Who exactly are you?’

Even the head of the Golden Dragon Family, to which she belonged, would have to make an appointment in advance and personally visit Yong Jamyeong at the scheduled time if he wanted to meet him.

‘Who are you, that even I was subdued by your internal energy?’

It was a sight so unbelievable that even seeing it with her own eyes didn’t make it real.

If the Galaxy Trading Company was considered the best in the upper ranks, then the Golden Dragon Family to which she belonged was certainly one of the top three. Though they maintained a good relationship with the Galaxy Trading Company, they were also fierce competitors.

‘Something’s not right. I need to figure out what this meeting is about and report back.’

After finishing his greeting with Geom Woojin, Yong Jamyeong turned his gaze toward Geum Arin and Lim Hyuk.

"And who might these people be?"

Geom Mugeuk introduced her.

“We have yet to hear this young lady’s name, but one thing is certain about her.”

There was a hint of unease—what would he say?

As expected.

“She is a young lady blessed with abundant fortune.”

Geum Arin couldn’t hide her baffled expression. Was that really how he was introducing her—to the head of the Galaxy Trading Company?

Yong Jamyeong smiled as he spoke.

"Among all fortunes, it seems you possess the fortune of happiness."

Though his tone was polite, inwardly he thought:

‘If she hasn’t even given her name yet, that means she doesn’t know who she’s dealing with.’

He wondered if her presence here today was somehow connected to the reason he was invited.

Next, Geom Mugeuk introduced Hwang In.

“This is the Head of the Hwangdo Trading Company. A man who dreams of one day becoming the head of The Greatest Trading Company Under the Heavens.”

Hwang In had never imagined he would meet the person he dreamed of becoming today of all days.

“It is an honor to meet you.”

“I’ve been quite impressed by the recent rapid growth of the Hwangdo Trading Company.”

Hwang In’s face flushed slightly. It was because his achievements had been made through questionable means. At the same time, he was startled to realize that the Galaxy Trading Company had been paying attention to him.

“Our company has been reborn. I hope you’ll continue to watch over us.”

As a merchant, Hwang In had sharp intuition.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

In truth, he wanted to spend the whole night talking with Yong Jamyeong and forging a connection, but he sensed this wasn’t the time or place.

Leaving didn’t always mean growing distant. Knowing when to step in and when to step out—that was sometimes the closest way to one’s goal.

At that moment, the personal guard Lim Hyuk sent a voice transmission to Geum Arin.

—Let’s take our leave as well.

—I still need to find out why these people are meeting.

—You know, don’t you? These are not the kind of people to easily reveal themselves. If we stay longer, we’ll only end up exposing ourselves more.

His judgment had been sharp from the beginning.

Though he hadn’t taken the lead in making decisions, the fact that Geum Arin accepted his assessment showed her own sound judgment.

“A guest of great stature has arrived, so we will also take our leave.”

Geum Arin rose from her seat.

As she said her goodbyes, Geom Mugeuk said to her,

“Next time, be sure to properly try the food. You won’t regret it.”

The Geom Mugeuk who brought up food during their farewell felt like a completely different person from the one who had said that earlier.

—Are you a person worth saving?

Geum Arin had a feeling that she would have to answer that question before long.

She bowed politely to both Geom Woojin and Yong Jamyeong, then left the place with Lim Hyuk.

As they walked toward the door, she and Lim Hyuk exchanged voice transmissions.

—This is a place we arranged, yet we’re the ones being pushed out first.

—Still, we’re leaving with our lives, aren’t we?

That was the gift of a sound decision.

Once even those two had departed, Geom Mugeuk turned to Yong Jamyeong and asked,

“Have you eaten?”

Normally, he would have refused without hesitation. Who joins a meal that’s already in progress? It had been a long time since he’d ever been in such a situation anyway.

But this was a different occasion.

This was a table at which the Heavenly Demon had been dining. He couldn’t simply stand and observe, saying, Please, continue eating.

“I haven’t eaten yet.”

“We’ve prepared plenty—there’s more than enough for you to join us.”

So Yong Jamyeong sat at the table. His three guards, including Baek Chong, stood a few steps behind him.

“Please, help yourselves.”

When Geom Mugeuk offered, Baek Chong declined politely.

“We’re fine, thank you.”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t insist further. Forcing them to sit down in this situation would only make things more difficult.

He brought over a new bowl filled with a portion of the dishes that hadn’t yet been served.

“This was made by me personally, with my father helping with the prep.”

At that, Yong Jamyeong was taken aback.

“A truly precious dish.”

“Of course. You won’t get to taste anything like it again.”

Yong Jamyeong bowed his head slightly toward Geom Woojin.

“It’s an honor.”

“I only hope it suits your palate.”

Yong Jamyeong tasted the food. Behind him, Baek Chong’s nerves were stretched to the limit.

What if it was poisoned? What if, rather than trying to kill him, they had laced it with parasite poison to control him?

He wanted to rush forward and pierce it with a silver needle right then and there.

But to stab food made by the Heavenly Demon and the Young Cult Leader with a silver needle? That would only lead to his heart being pierced by their swords instead.

Yong Jamyeong, unbothered by such concerns, ate the food calmly.

“It’s truly delicious.”

It wasn’t just empty praise. He was someone who had tasted the best dishes the world had to offer, and this meal was genuinely exceptional.

“Next time, please try a dish made by my father, with me assisting. Then tell us whose cooking is better.”

Yong Jamyeong only smiled. That was a question he could never answer. It would mean judging the food of the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader of the demonic cult and declaring which was superior.

After the meal ended simply, Yong Jamyeong finally asked respectfully,

“May I ask why such an esteemed figure has called upon a mere merchant?”

To Geom Mugeuk, everything he had set out to do was already complete.

Through this meeting, Geum Arin now understood that there was some connection between them and the Galaxy Trading Company.

But it seemed his father had called Yong Jamyeong for an entirely different reason.

“To introduce my son to you.”