Absolute Regression

Chapter 481: A Life Where Nothing Happens

Assassins who should never have failed, failed.

They used to say the fight of a martial artist and that of an assassin were different. That no matter how skilled one was, no one could withstand a hidden blade.

Then why couldn’t that hidden blade pierce the back of that grinning bastard?

In any case, he had decided being around that man was a disadvantage to him and coldly issued a banishment order.

You think you know who sent the assassin?

That’s bait no one can resist biting.

"Who is it?"

Geom Mugeuk stared at him and spoke.

"Seems you’re finally curious."

Geum Ahyuk responded calmly.

"This assassination attempt, I believe, is related to your grudge. So I’m not curious about the contractor. I’m here to see what kind of person you are. How honest you are."

To stand so shamelessly and confidently before the very man you tried to kill—few could manage that. Especially not in a situation where the opponent’s martial arts were overwhelming. In other words, this was proof that someone had his back.

‘He meets directly with whoever is behind this.’

From Geum Ahyuk’s reaction, Geom Mugeuk inferred his connection with the mastermind.

"So speak."

Between the two, the second son Geum Ajong was trapped in a misunderstanding.

‘This cheeky little swindler, even staged his own play?’

Geum Ajong believed last night’s assassin intrusion was a staged act by Geom Mugeuk.

How could assassins suddenly invade the Geum Dragon Family, which had always been peaceful?

He couldn’t even imagine that his father or brother might have hired them. He always thought he was the most hot-tempered in the family, but in reality—he was actually the most naïve.

‘Still, he succeeded in drawing my brother’s attention.’

Geum Ajong was curious to see how this swindler would manipulate his brother.

Geum Ahyuk pushed hard.

"If you don’t want to talk, then leave. And don’t ever come looking for me again."

Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,

"I’m someone who wants to be close to the Great Young Master. Didn’t you realize that when I came to pay my respects today?"

Geom Mugeuk sat down at the guest table in the office.

"Ah, this kind of conversation should really be had over a drink at some roadside tavern. You may drink at expensive taverns or pleasure houses, but sometimes hidden gems like ‘Jangbo Tavern’ can be found among those shabby street joints." Ꞧ𝖆Ｎ𝖔βËṩ

"If you’re just going to spout nonsense, get lost!"

Geum Ahyuk glared at his younger brother. His eyes clearly said: get him out of here right now.

‘Ah, even for my brother, this guy isn’t easy.’

Lately, his brother had changed a lot. He hadn’t liked him to begin with, but now he even found him uncomfortable and strange.

"Don’t push him too hard. That guy must know something to be saying all that."

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke.

"You."

A moment of silence passed.

"The contractor is you."

Geum Ahyuk never expected to be named. Especially not so directly, to his face.

Hearing this, Geum Ajong burst into laughter.

"You really are an amusing fellow."

But neither Geom Mugeuk nor Geum Ahyuk laughed. The laughter disappeared from Geum Ajong’s face as quickly as it came.

"What? Don’t tell me you were serious?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. A reflexive “Crazy bastard!” escaped Geum Ajong’s mouth.

"Why would you suspect him? Watch your words. You’re accusing the Great Young Master of the Golden Dragon Family of hiring assassins."

Geom Mugeuk stared at him. In those wavering pupils, his unrest was clear. No matter how much one tried, staying composed in a situation like this wasn’t easy.

Then, another shocking remark came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

"One of the assassins confessed it was you as he died."

Geom Mugeuk lied without the slightest change in his expression.

On the other hand, the word "confessed" clearly rattled Geum Ahyuk. The corner of his eye twitched ever so slightly.

Watching him, Geum Ajong felt his heart drop. Whenever his brother got struck at the core or got caught in a lie, his eyes always twitched like that. It had been that way since childhood.

"If you heard something like that, why are you telling me?"

In a calm tone, Geom Mugeuk replied with a smile.

"I believe our Great Young Master has been falsely accused. Could the successor to the Golden Dragon Family really have done such a thing? And now that I’m part of the Golden Dragon Family, shouldn’t I provide such information to the heir?"

Geum Ahyuk said nothing.

Since the conversation went no further, Geom Mugeuk stood from his seat.

"You must be busy, and I’ve taken enough of your time. I’ll be leaving now."

Before he left, he added one last line.

"Think carefully about who would want to frame you."

With those words, Geom Mugeuk left first.

Geum Ajong looked at his brother. Geum Ahyuk had walked over to the window and wasn’t even looking his way.

At that moment, his heart was filled with doubt.

’Did he really hire the assassins? No, right?’

If it turned out to be true, it was the perfect opportunity to drive his brother out from the heir’s position.

But it didn’t feel entirely good.

’That lunatic might try to have me killed next.’

That night, in a small iron workshop, a middle-aged man was hammering a glowing hot piece of iron on an anvil.

Clang! Claang!

Each strike of the hammer was sharp and powerful. The man, shirtless, was thin and small. It was hard to believe such strength could come from a body that looked like it was all bones.

At that moment, Geum Ahyuk stepped inside.

He quietly waited for the hammering to end. This man hammering the metal was someone who could forgive anything—except being disturbed while he worked.

Clang!

As the long, ringing sound of the hammer faded, the man lifted his head and looked at Geum Ahyuk.

"You’ve come?"

"Sir, have you been well?"

The middle-aged man’s name was Myungshin.

He was the very man whom Geum Ahyuk had once referred to as him when speaking to his father.

Geum Ahyuk truly respected Myungshin.

A strong and intelligent man—different from those ignorant martial artists.

It felt good being around him. He learned about the world of martial arts and about life itself. Above all, when he was with Myungshin, he felt a sense of reassurance that no one could kill him.

As they say, blood cannot be deceived—his father Geum Cheonbang’s pathological fear of martial artists had been passed down to his son, Geum Ahyuk.

"You seem to have lost more weight. Please make sure to eat properly."

Though now drenched in sweat and looking like any ordinary worker of an iron workshop, once he donned a scholar’s white robe and held a fan, he truly looked like the smartest man in the world. And in fact, he was.

From time to time, as a hobby, he forged swords and daggers—and his skill was exceptional.

"Did the assassination fail?"

"How did you know?"

Instead of answering, Myungshin merely gave a single, ambiguous nod.

Geum Ahyuk had commissioned the job through the Underworld and spent a large sum—for Myungshin’s sake.

"Though it failed this time, even if I have to sell everything I own, I will protect you, sir."

It was a statement that would have made his father faint, but it was Geum Ahyuk’s sincere truth. He followed Myungshin like a man caught in a cult.

Having declared his resolve, Geum Ahyuk cautiously brought something up.

"But there’s one thing that puzzles me."

"What is it?"

"They say the assassin confessed with his dying breath that I was the one who commissioned the job."

"Who said that?"

"A man named Geom Yeon."

At the mention of Geom Yeon, Myungshin fell into silence. His expression at that moment was one Geum Ahyuk had never seen before.

A strange tension lingered in the air, and it felt unfamiliar. The same alien emotion his father had once felt toward him—Geum Ahyuk was now feeling toward Myungshin.

"That’s a lie. Assassins who take on a job never know who the client is."

Geum Ahyuk made a face that said, I knew it. That was exactly what he had thought too.

"Then why would he lie to me?"

Myungshin looked at him. His eyes seemed to say, You still don’t know?—but Geum Ahyuk couldn’t figure it out. Myungshin was the one who knew the answer.

"I’m expecting a guest tonight, so you should go back now."

A guest, at this hour? That couldn’t be true. He likely didn’t want to see him after the failed job.

Geum Ahyuk felt disappointed. On a night like this, he had wanted to stay with him longer.

With this anxious heart, where nothing had been resolved clearly, there would be no sleep tonight.

"I’ll come again."

Geum Ahyuk bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

Then, turning back, he added,

"Please don’t worry about what happened. I’ll handle it well."

"Reliable, indeed."

Myungshin smiled broadly.

As Geum Ahyuk left, someone else entered the place.

It was Geom Mugeuk, who had tracked him all the way here.

Though Geum Ahyuk had taken a roundabout path, cautious of being followed, there was no way he could escape Geom Mugeuk’s eyes.

"I hope you’ll forgive me for using a shallow trick to meet you."

"How could it be a shallow trick when it correctly identified your target?"

Had Geum Ahyuk heard that, he would have felt quite hurt, but Myungshin showed no particular emotion as he replied.

The two men’s gazes met.

From the look in Myungshin’s eyes, Geom Mugeuk realized one thing.

"You know who I am."

A smile appeared on Myungshin’s lips.

"Indeed. Welcome, Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, Geom Mugeuk."

Though he hadn’t introduced himself, Geom Mugeuk had already guessed the man’s identity. Part of it was due to this very location.

Myungshin.

The right hand of the King of Killing.

A killer ranked second in the martial world.

He was once a man who could have competed with the King of Killing for the title of the greatest under heaven, but for some reason, he chose to become the King’s limbs.

Whatever story lay between them was unknown to the martial world. People only speculated that Myungshin may have owed the King of Killing a life debt.

But Geom Mugeuk knew the truth. In his life before regression, it was revealed after Myungshin’s death: the one who killed Myungshin, who had been loyal to him to the end, was the King of Killing himself.

"You’re not asking who I am?"

"Do killers even have names? What number are you called by?"

Though provocative, Myungshin remained composed.

The fact that Geom Mugeuk instantly realized he was an assassin brought a flicker of surprise to Myungshin’s eyes.

Myungshin was a kind of assassin Geom Mugeuk had never experienced before. Even his energy was different from typical assassins.

His energy held emotion.

Geom Mugeuk looked around at the items hanging inside the iron workshop.

"Did you make all these yourself?"

"I did."

"May I touch them?"

"As much as you like."

Myungshin was well-known for his skill in crafting hidden weapons. It was said that even the King of Killing often used his creations. What the King liked about Myungshin’s hidden weapons wasn’t just their lethality—they were also striking in design and unpredictability.

Unfortunately, the weapons displayed here were just ordinary daggers and blades. But true to his skills, the balance of each weapon was flawless.

"Do you sell them?"

"This is just a pastime, so I don’t sell them."

"A shame. If you did, I’d have bought every piece here."

Myungshin gave a subtle smile.

"Just as the rumors say."

"What kind of rumors have you heard about me?"

Myungshin slowly walked toward Geom Mugeuk.

The second-best killer in the martial world was approaching.

Geom Mugeuk sharpened his senses, maintaining inner calm.

As he stared silently at Geom Mugeuk, Myungshin spoke in a composed voice.

"I suppose I should forget all the rumors."

It sounded like he meant to judge with his own eyes, so Geom Mugeuk responded with a hint of disappointment.

"There must have been some decent rumors. What a pity."

The distance between them was close enough for a sword strike to land.

"It’s impressive. Even knowing we were coming, you didn’t flee and showed yourself like this."

"I’m the one who’s surprised. To think you’ve been left alone this long."

A remark that implied someone could have already killed the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, who was wandering alone.

"My father raised me to be strong. He was the type to toss me off a cliff and tell me to invent a movement technique on the way down."

Myungshin responded with a laugh, taking the joke in stride. He was clearly at ease—a calm born from strength and confidence.

"You must’ve expected I’d track down Geum Ahyuk. Why wait?"

Myungshin fixed his gaze on Geom Mugeuk and replied.

"I waited to tell you to leave."

A calm yet threatening warning.

"If you know who I am, then you must also know who came with me. Would that person leave just because you said so? Why don’t you go and tell them yourself?"

With a look that said that would be troublesome, Myungshin gave persuasion one last shot.

"You convince them. Then nothing will happen."

Of course, there was no way that would work.

"I’m still young—living a life where nothing happens would be far too dull."

With an expression that said I figured as much, Myungshin walked over to the opposite wall.

"We plan to resolve this matter with money."

He gripped a handle protruding from the wall beside the brazier.

"You know what this is?"

"What is it?"

"A device that sends a message to every assassin in the martial world. The moment I pull this, my subordinates will begin spreading the word."

"What message?"

Then came something completely unexpected.

"A message that puts a bounty on your head."

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes darkened.

"If you want to get someone to consider killing the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, you’ll need to offer quite a sum."

"That’s why I offered a lot."

And from Myungshin’s lips came a staggering number.

"Ten million nyang."

"!"

Even Geom Mugeuk couldn’t hide his surprise at that amount.

"Since the founding of the martial world, this is the highest bounty in history. Not for the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, but an amount worth diving into hell to find the target."

Myungshin spoke with a cold gaze.

"The moment I pull this, your life gets a lot busier starting today. Even so, you still won’t leave?"

A tense atmosphere stretched between them.

Geom Mugeuk slowly began walking toward him.

Myungshin grew tense at Geom Mugeuk’s reaction.

"Take another step and I’ll pull it."

But Geom Mugeuk didn’t stop, as if daring him to go ahead and pull it.

When Geom Mugeuk finally reached Myungshin’s side, he did something unexpected.

He grabbed the very handle Myungshin was holding. Their hands overlapped.

It was a moment where an all-out fight could have erupted, yet Myungshin simply watched what Geom Mugeuk would do.

Both their actions and reactions defied common sense, yet everything remained calm and composed.

Grinning at Myungshin, Geom Mugeuk yanked the handle with force.

Clank.

The brazier’s door clattered open. The handle had been nothing more than a latch for that door.

"How did you know?"

Geom Mugeuk replied with a faint smile.

"You’re all here because of money, aren’t you? And yet, to spend such a fortune just to kill me? That didn’t add up."

Myungshin revealed his admiration without holding back.

"Quite clever."

"You must’ve heard the rumors. Not just clever, but brilliant. And not just brilliant, but a genius."

Myungshin chuckled.

"Genius Young Cult Leader, until next time."

But the handle wasn’t just for opening the brazier. A second mechanism activated with a delay.

Clank.

The floor beneath Myungshin dropped open, and he vanished below. At the same time, a barrage of hidden needles shot toward where Geom Mugeuk stood.

Shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik shwik!

Ching ching ching ching ching ching ching ching ching!

By the time Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and deflected all the needles, Myungshin had already escaped through the trap.

For some reason, Geom Mugeuk didn’t pursue through the hole.

Instead, he shouted down into the opening.

"You don’t look like you’ve even got a thousand nyang, let alone ten million!"

From deep within the hole, it seemed like Myungshin’s laughter echoed faintly back.