Absolute Regression

Chapter 462: Can a story about money leave out alcohol?

Yong Jamyeong had been pondering the reason the Cult Leader summoned him the entire way here.

Whether it was for something good, or something bad.

But he truly hadn’t expected that the reason would be to introduce him to his son.

Naturally, Yong Jamyeong’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.

The next-generation Heavenly Demon, and the most talked-about figure in the Martial world recently. All the rumors and information surrounding him were always contradictory.

Petty yet impressive.

The petty parts were so insignificant they were hard to believe, while the impressive feats he had achieved were so extraordinary they were equally hard to believe.

And as if to prove those rumors were more than just talk, at their first meeting, he was holding a ladle. The first words Yong Jamyeong had heard from him were, “Would anyone like more soup?”

Geom Mugeuk bowed his head to his father and greeted him.

“Thank you, Father.”

Though he didn’t know the true intentions his father held in this matter, at the very least, he believed it was something done for his own sake. He could feel it just from the brief glance his father gave him.

Since he still didn’t know what kind of people Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk were, Yong Jamyeong’s suspicion was only natural.

‘Did the Cult Leader arrange this meeting to build his son’s network? That can’t be it.’

A natural conclusion came to mind.

‘In the end, is it about money?’

A conclusion born from long experience.

No matter how it was packaged, what a martial artist ultimately wanted from a merchant was money.

Since the Heavenly Demon couldn’t step forward personally, was he planning to use his son to demand money under some pretense?

Of course, the amount would be enormous, befitting the names of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Galaxy Trading Company.

‘If that’s the reason?’

While a martial artist might grow furious at the other party’s unfairness and seek retribution, a merchant must not do so. A merchant must ask himself at such a moment:

‘What can I gain in return?’

Concealing such thoughts, Yong Jamyeong spoke to Geom Woojin with proper courtesy.

“To build a connection with the Young Cult Leader—this man could only hope for such a thing.”

It was sincere. There was no harm in building a relationship with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

—If that’s how you want to play, then I’ll call someone I know too.

—Who would you dare call against us?

—The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

Because it meant he could exchange thrilling conversations like that. As long as the other party had no hidden, impure motives, of course.

Geom Woojin rose from his seat.

“See you later.”

It was a sign to spend time with Geom Mugeuk. And “see you later” meant: don’t leave right away, stay for the rest of the day.

Yong Jamyeong hadn’t expected Geom Woojin to leave him alone with the Young Cult Leader, and was internally taken aback.

‘What kind of situation is this?’

As the Trading Company Head of the Galaxy Trading Company, it wasn’t something he could easily experience.

Anyway, since he said “see you later.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Yong Jamyeong answered with a polite smile.

His flawless courtesy wasn’t just because the other man was the Heavenly Demon. Yong Jamyeong, as a merchant, had never been one to let emotions dictate his demeanor. Ɍäℕ∅ΒĚS

Geom Woojin began walking away slowly.

Baek Chong, who stood behind Yong Jamyeong, grew even more tense.

He hadn’t noticed it while they were seated and eating, but now that Geom Woojin was walking, it felt entirely different. Though he walked slowly, it didn’t feel slow, and it seemed like the air around him moved in tune with him at its center.

Before he exited, Geom Woojin left Yong Jamyeong with a parting remark.

“This won’t be such a bad thing for you, either.”

What did he mean by that? Was it faith in his son? Or some kind of hint?

Yong Jamyeong couldn’t tell. He had met countless people and experienced all sorts of situations, but today, that experience wasn’t of much use.

Meanwhile, after the Cult Leader left the area, Baek Chong became even more on edge.

—He could be planning something. Don’t let your guard down.

He sent a transmission to the martial artists who were with him. He couldn’t understand Geom Woojin’s behavior either. What caught his attention wasn’t that Geom Woojin left Yong Jamyeong behind.

‘He left only the Young Cult Leader?’

Since the Cult Leader had vacated the scene, it was possible for him to take independent action.

Yong Jamyeong looked around and asked Geom Mugeuk,

“Come to think of it, I don’t see any escorts. Where are they?”

“I left my escorts back at the main cult.”

Geom Mugeuk glanced at the three martial artists standing behind Yong Jamyeong and added,

“I told them to keep training until they have built up enough skill to match those individuals.”

It was something no one at this place would readily believe, but it was true. In fact, they were likely in a meditative state of cultivation at this very moment. Even if they couldn’t protect him, they at least shouldn’t become a burden — that was his mindset.

Since neither of them was the type to allow awkward silence, the conversation continued naturally.

“Since we’ve eaten, would you care to take a walk outside?”

“Let’s do that.”

The two of them stepped out of the manor. Yong Jamyeong began with a question that had been on his mind.

“Why did you ask to meet at this manor?”

“Because of the woman with the good fortune to eat, whom you saw earlier.”

“What’s your relationship with that woman?”

“She’s someone who came here to kill us.”

From Geom Mugeuk’s earlier remark that he didn’t even know her name, Yong Jamyeong had guessed that she didn’t know their identities. If she had known, she never would have dared conceal her own name. The only reason she could’ve plotted such a thing was because she didn’t know.

But here was the real issue.

‘They just let a woman who tried to kill the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader go?’

That was absolutely unthinkable.

The reason for his summons became clear.

“So you called me because of that woman.”

“I believed that too.”

Geom Mugeuk said, looking at Yong Jamyeong.

“But Father thought differently. You were surprised, weren’t you? I was too.”

So this meeting between just the two of them hadn’t been arranged beforehand? Could that really be true?

Yong Jamyeong didn’t believe it. He was certain there had to be something the other wanted.

As if reading his thoughts—

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

Of course. No such thing as a virtuous demonic cultivator. Even those who claim to be from the righteous path are full of trickery—how much more so for demonic ones?

Concealing such thoughts, Yong Jamyeong replied smoothly.

“Speak. Whatever it is.”

What did he want from the Galaxy Trading Company? How much?

But the request that came from Geom Mugeuk wasn’t like that.

“Please tell me about yourself.”

Yong Jamyeong stopped in his tracks. Geom Mugeuk stopped as well.

“About me?”

“Yes. Any story will do.”

“May I ask why?”

“I gave a lot of thought to why Father wanted to introduce me to you.”

Geom Mugeuk had truly reflected on it. Because before it was an issue between him and Yong Jamyeong, it was an issue between him and his father.

“It can’t be something as casual as, ‘You’ve met him, so you might as well become friends.’ My father isn’t that kind of person.”

“So? Did you find an answer?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded. The answer he’d come up with was this:

“He wants me to learn from you.”

“Learn what?”

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk answered.

“The life of someone who has reached the top of their field.”

“!”

Yong Jamyeong was silent for a moment. He felt caught off guard. He hadn’t imagined that the Heavenly Demon would introduce him to his son with such an intention.

But soon, Yong Jamyeong began to suspect the other’s motives.

‘No. That can’t be it.’

He was probably going to use this as a pretext to ask for something. That gaze was simply so clear and deep, it had confused him for a moment.

“The Cult Leader held a petty merchant in far too high regard. All I know are stories about money.”

But Geom Mugeuk looked delighted.

“Aren’t those the most entertaining stories of all?”

Geom Mugeuk strode ahead as he spoke.

“Let’s go. Can a story about money possibly go without alcohol?”

The two of them sat across from each other at a tavern in the marketplace.

It was the same tavern where all the meetings here had taken place.

Geom Mugeuk and Yong Jamyeong took a seat in a corner. The martial artists, including Baek Chong, were ordered to stay as far away as possible.

After all, when the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was asking about one’s life, it didn’t seem right to be surrounded by guards.

After pouring each other a drink, the two emptied their first cups.

“It’s been a long time since I drank at a tavern like this. I used to drop by now and then.”

“For someone who could buy this entire tavern with the cost of a single meal, you’re quite modest.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s sweet remark, Yong Jamyeong replied with a smile.

“So you enjoy being praised like this.”

Geom Mugeuk said as he refilled Yong Jamyeong’s cup.

“It’s a wholesome sort of amusement.”

“Wholesome? Not arrogance or vanity?”

“As long as that amusement doesn’t turn toward people, it stays wholesome.”

Yong Jamyeong flinched for a moment.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, someone could say, ‘Look how rich I am. Look how much money I make.’ If that sense of superiority starts pointing at people, that’s when trouble begins. At first, it might just be enjoying their envy, but gradually, it turns into looking down on them, and eventually ends up deeply hurting them. Just like a blade pointed at someone causes problems.”

Yong Jamyeong listened to Geom Mugeuk’s words in silence.

“On the other hand, enjoying that sense of superiority alone in a shabby tavern like this—that, I call a healthy form of amusement. So come often and enjoy yourself.”

Yong Jamyeong fell into thought for a moment without saying a word. He had never looked at it from this angle before.

“Is that why you go there, too?”

As the head of the Galaxy Trading Company, Yong Jamyeong naturally knew about the Three-Way Summit involving the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions. He had also heard that the summit had taken place in a small tavern and that it was the regular spot of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

So in the end, his question boiled down to this:

Is that why you also enjoy “healthy amusement” at the Flowing Wind Tavern?

Geom Mugeuk understood right away what he meant by the question. That was why his answer came with certainty.

“No. I’m different.”

“How so?”

“I simply like the tavern’s owner. The liquor is great, the side dishes are delicious, and more than anything, he makes his customers feel comfortable. If you ever visit the main cult, I’ll definitely take you there.”

Yong Jamyeong replied with a smile to Geom Mugeuk’s bright expression.

“You’re quite the speaker. A talent every merchant must have. What do you say? Ever thought about entering the trading world?”

“Do you think Father introduced me to you because he recognized me as a promising sapling that could grow into a money tree?”

With such jokes exchanged, the mood was light.

Yong Jamyeong, unexpectedly, found himself enjoying this meeting. Even though he couldn’t tell how much of it was genuine or when the other might reveal his true nature, the conversation between them flowed freely. For some reason, he was having fun.

But when sword and coin meet, the good mood cannot last forever.

In fact, it was better to ask now—while the atmosphere was still good.

“What is it you want from me? Money?”

Staring into Yong Jamyeong’s fearless gaze, Geom Mugeuk asked in return,

“If it’s money, would you give it to me?”

Tension rippled between the two.

“How much do you want?”

A smile appeared on Geom Mugeuk’s lips.

“You’re asking how much I want? Hearing that from the wealthiest man in the world? It’s everyone’s dream.”

Even at Geom Mugeuk’s joke, Yong Jamyeong answered with sincerity.

“The amount doesn’t matter. What matters is—what can you give me in return?”

At last, even the playful expression vanished from Geom Mugeuk’s face.

“I understand this situation could easily be misunderstood. But you saw my father, didn’t you? Does he look like the type to summon someone here because he needs money?”

A meaningful addition followed.

“If my father ever needs money, he’s the kind of person who goes to someone—not the kind who calls them.”

Yong Jamyeong could tell. There was a dual meaning in those words. At a glance, it might sound like he was saying his father would go visit politely, but that wasn’t it. What he truly meant was this: he would march in and take everything for himself.

If he had gone this far to explain, then it likely wasn’t about money after all.

“It seems I misunderstood. I’ll apologize.”

“It’d be strange not to misunderstand.”

No—if that were true, this situation was even stranger.

What exactly did the Cult Leader and this Young Cult Leader want from him?

“Do you know what question people ask me the most?”

Geom Mugeuk hit the mark exactly.

“How do you make a lot of money?”

Yong Jamyeong nodded and asked,

“Why haven’t you asked me that?”

Then came an unexpected answer.

“Because the answer is probably in your life already. That’s why I said I wanted to hear your story.”

Yong Jamyeong himself didn’t fully believe those words. After all, people could lie at any moment. What he believed in was not words—but life itself. When judging a person, one looks at the road they’ve walked.

“Are you really curious about my story? When people talk about their past, they tend to glamorize it. In the end, it turns into bragging. Doesn’t that bore you?”

“Bragging is only boring when it comes from someone who isn’t actually great. Bragging from someone truly remarkable—it’s an epic adventure tale.”

Yong Jamyeong’s admiration naturally brought his thoughts to lineage.

‘He really is the son of the Heavenly Demon.’

There was no other way to explain this kind of powerful presence at such a young age.

“I’ve always tried to live by two principles.”

“What are they?”

“The first is to not fear death. The second is to never consider the joy of earning money as the highest value.”

“Neither of those fits the principles of the richest man in the Central Plains. Could you explain them in more detail?”

And just like that, the story of his life began to flow naturally.