Absolute Regression

Chapter 483: What Comes When You Let Your Guard Down

It was a lesson passed down by Hui.

‘The moment you let your guard down, you die!’

A simple truth delivered by the greatest escort of the era.

Geom Mugeuk knew. Just how difficult it was to live by that single line. That truths which are the hardest to keep are always the simplest.

“Ah! This is serious.”

Geom Mugeuk made a fuss—but it wasn’t a fake one.

“There are just too many moments in my life when I let my guard down. I play, I drink! I even dance!”

That’s what I said, but in truth, there are only two times when I truly let my guard down.

“When I’m with my father, I’m completely unguarded. Even if an assassin comes, whatever. My father will stop them!”

In truth, I still stay tense even when I’m with my father. Not because of the threat of someone’s ambush—but because of him.

The closer we get, the more nervous I become. Because it means the time for a mistake is near.

The only moment I completely relax is when I’m inside the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

Ah, just thinking about that place feels so good.

The comfort of lying on that hot sandy beach. The sound of seagulls and waves, something crawling across the sand.

Of course, there’s one more place now. When I soak my body in a hot spring surrounded on all sides by snow, I forget all the worries of the world.

Thinking of that place with the possibility of an assassin in mind only made me realize once again how precious it is.

“Ah, even now as I listen to you, Uncle, I’m letting my guard down.”

Hui smiled. He had given faint smiles before, but this was the first time he had smiled so pleasantly.

“You’re letting your guard down too, right, Uncle?”

At that, Hui nodded without hesitation.

“That’s right. If I were ambushed at this moment, I’d be dead.”

“Then we’d both be dead.”

Hui then spoke carefully.

“I would’ve died first.”

Something a true escort warrior never wants to see.

No matter how many horrifying, gruesome things they witness in the world—even if they see the blade piercing their own heart—there is one thing they never wish to witness. ŔãℕǑ𝐁ÈS̈

The death of the one they’re supposed to protect.

Just as Lee Ahn had thrown herself for me, Hui was also someone prepared to die first.

“Perhaps that is the only blessing granted to an escort.”

What more needed to be said? He had already proven himself with his willingness to die.

I like this man who spent his life protecting my father and even shared death with him.

That’s why I can make a promise.

In this life, that will never happen.

That was the reason I suffered through regression in the first place.

That’s why I will never let my guard down.

“Uncle.”

“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”

“I will never forget what you told me today, and I’ll make sure to say this—‘I survived thanks to what Uncle Hui said!’”

I would return after killing the King of Killing and make sure to deliver those words.

Whether my sincerity reached him or not, he smiled.

“You must be tired. Please go in and get some rest.”

“Yes, you too, Uncle.”

As I walked down the hallway after entering the building, I glanced out the window and saw Hui still standing in the yard.

He stood under the night sky, his face deep in thought.

Come to think of it, this was the first time I had seen Hui standing under the moonlight.

*         *         *

Geum Cheonbang arrived at Geom Mugeuk’s residence.

Lately, he hadn’t been able to sleep, tormented by worries about his son. His son commissioning an assassin had come as a tremendous shock to him.

Whatever else, the fact that someone had influenced his son to go so far as to make a request to a killer was something he could never forgive.

Of course, he didn’t know.

That regardless of his son, the outcome had already been decided. From the beginning, they were nothing more than grass caught in a fight between beasts.

He considered going to confront the man himself.

But after having left everything to his son until now, meeting him personally at this point felt burdensome.

So, even if he were to meet him, he planned to see Geom Mugeuk first and then decide.

‘I have to fix this somehow.’

Even if his son had made the request under that man’s influence, it didn’t change the fact that he bore responsibility for it. That was the core purpose of today’s visit.

‘Does he really know who made the request?’

When Geom Mugeuk came to see him, he had looked as if he knew something.

He had come here to confirm that. And if he did know? That was why he came alone without even bringing his subordinates—just in case.

‘If not, I’ll have to settle it with money.’

He hadn’t even greeted the father or uncle of the one named Geom Yeon. He was curious to know what kind of people they were.

When he knocked on the door, Hui greeted him.

“What brings you here?”

“Are you Geom Yeon’s father?”

“No. I am Yeon’s uncle.”

“Ah, I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am the head of the Golden Dragon Family.”

It was the escort his daughter had brought. Strictly speaking, there was no need to be this polite.

But the moment he saw Hui, he found himself instinctively shrinking back.

“I would like to meet Geom Yeon’s father.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll go ask inside.”

“Please do.”

Since a Family Head had come to visit, shouldn’t he be invited in immediately? Were they planning to send him away if he was asleep?

As he was lost in these thoughts, Hui returned.

“Please come in.”

Hui guided him to Geom Woojin.

“The head of the Golden Dragon Family has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

Geum Cheonbang entered the room. Hui followed him in as well. For now, he was here not as a bodyguard but as an uncle.

Geom Woojin, who had been standing by the window looking outside, turned around and faced Geum Cheonbang.

The moment their eyes met, every hair on Geum Cheonbang’s body stood on end. What he felt now was a presence far beyond the oppressive aura he had sensed when meeting Hui.

“I am Geum Cheonbang, the one who leads the Golden Dragon Family.”

Geum Cheonbang greeted him with a cupped fist, showing greater courtesy than he usually would.

Although he held the cover identity of the Seodo Sect Family Head, Geom Woojin introduced himself simply.

“I’m Yeon’s father.”

Geum Cheonbang had met countless people while leading the trading company, but never had anyone left such a strong impression as this man.

“Unfortunately, something that should never have happened occurred recently in my family’s household. I offer my apologies for that.”

He began with an apology, then asked about his well-being.

“Are you unharmed?”

“I’m fine.”

“Do you perhaps have any idea who might be behind it?”

“No.”

The brief responses gave away nothing, so he tried to read the other’s expression for any hints of truth.

But before he could even sense anything, his eyes met Geom Woojin’s, and instinctively, he averted his gaze and bowed his head.

‘Not an easy opponent.’

His son Geom Yeon was the same. This father and son were far from ordinary.

Could they really be the ones who came to serve under his daughter?

An awkward silence followed. Though he was usually skilled at leading conversations after meeting so many people, this time, he found himself strangely tongue-tied.

He had uncovered nothing so far. At this rate, he’d be driven out with a dismissal at any moment.

Then, suddenly, something Geom Mugeuk had once told him came to mind.

“Your son once suggested that I visit his father and seek his counsel.”

“He said that?”

Geom Woojin seemed unaware.

“He said I should learn how to become a parent who can overcome their child. He said you were the best in that area.”

Only then did a faint, peculiar smile appear on Geom Woojin’s face.

“How does one win against their child?”

After a short pause, Geom Woojin replied.

“I’m losing too.”

Hui slightly lowered his head. One could not dare show amusement at the words of the Cult Leader. A declaration of defeat by the Cult Leader?

Though it was said with a hint of jest, Hui knew it wasn’t just a joke. Lately, the Cult Leader had been losing quite often—he even lost at fishing.

Seeing Hui smiling faintly with his head bowed, Geom Woojin asked him.

“What do you think?”

“How could I know, not having children myself?”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

It sounded like the kind of thing someone would say if having children only made the answer harder to find.

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, he hesitated—but how could he be careless when the Cult Leader was the one asking?

“I don’t know about winning or losing with one’s child. But I once heard someone say this.”

Though the question came from the Cult Leader, his answer was directed at Geum Cheonbang. Because it was a message that man needed to hear.

“A child grows by watching actions, not words.”

Geum Cheonbang felt a heavy weight settle over his heart. How could he not understand the meaning in those words?

If you can’t win over your child, it means you can’t win over yourself.

In that regard, Geum Cheonbang felt deeply ashamed.

What had he shown his son? His son had responded with a belief that there was nothing in this world that money couldn’t solve.

Geom Woojin spoke to Geum Cheonbang.

“So they say.”

“Thank you for the wise words.”

He hadn’t been able to confirm whether they knew about his son’s hired assassination or not.

But even so, this visit had not only been one of regret over having raised his child poorly.

As he turned to take his leave after offering his farewell, Geom Woojin said something completely unexpected.

“My son must have taken a liking to you.”

“!”

To Geum Cheonbang, those words sounded like this:

My son is giving you a chance to be forgiven.

At that moment, the stifling tightness that had been choking his chest seemed to loosen just a little, like a small breath of fresh air breaking through.

He sincerely hoped it was meant that way.

Geum Cheonbang bowed his head slightly once again, gave his farewell, and left the place.

As Hui returned from seeing him off, Geom Woojin said to him,

“Are you sure you don’t have a hidden child somewhere?”

It was his way of complimenting Hui on how well he had responded earlier.

Hui simply smiled without saying a word.

He stood silently beside Geom Woojin, looking out the window, before cautiously speaking.

“The assassin behind all this doesn’t seem like an ordinary figure.”

Geom Woojin quietly nodded.

Hui already knew. Even if the Cult Leader looked as carefree as ever, he was well aware of many things. He had always received reports from the Chief Strategist.

He had already grasped how the assassins were moving and which of them were involved. He knew that only the best of the best were in play.

And even knowing all that, the Cult Leader merely observed in silence.

How did the Cult Leader see the Young Cult Leader?

He was probably seeing something even deeper than Hui could perceive.

Because Hui couldn’t see that far—precisely because of that...

“I have a request, Cult Leader.”

Geom Woojin looked at Hui with a surprised expression for a moment.

“Have you ever asked me for anything before?”

To that question, Hui respectfully answered.

“This is the first time.”

“What is it?”

“It’s something I shouldn’t dare ask. Please forgive my discourtesy.”

Geom Woojin quietly waited for Hui to speak.

“Just for a while… I would like to take on the duty of escorting the Young Cult Leader.”

Hui was the escort of the Heavenly Demon—not just anyone. He was someone who must never take his eyes off the Heavenly Demon, not even for a single moment. Even if the Heavenly Demon was eating here and the Young Cult Leader was dying over there, he was someone who must not go to his side.

That was truly the life he had lived up until now—and yet, here he was making such a request.

Geom Woojin responded to Hui with firm resolve.

“I refuse.”

Hui bowed his head respectfully.

“Yes, Cult Leader. I apologize for speaking out of turn. I will gladly accept any punishment for this great disrespect.”

Then, an unexpected voice spoke.

“Hui, I give you an order.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

Hui clenched his fist in a firm cupped salute, tension running through him. It had been a long time since he had received a formal order.

“Until this matter is resolved, you are to escort the Young Cult Leader.”

Surprised, Hui looked up at Geom Woojin.

Geom Woojin met his eyes and said,

“This is the first request you’ve ever made in your life—I can’t let it be spent on something like protecting my son.”

“!”

“Save it for a request that’s for your own sake.”

With eyes burning with emotion, Hui looked at Geom Woojin and answered more forcefully than ever before.

“I shall carry out the Cult Leader’s order!”

*         *         *

“So you’re going to be my escort now, Uncle?”

I was startled by Hui’s words.

“It is the Cult Leader’s command.”

“My father gave that kind of order all of a sudden? That can’t be. You know it too, right? He’s not the kind of person who tosses his son off a cliff with a net waiting below.”

I stared at Hui.

“You said you’d protect me, right?”

“No. It was the Cult Leader’s command.”

He wasn’t someone good at lying. From his voice and eyes alone, I could tell. This had been Hui’s own decision.

So that’s what he had been pondering so deeply under the moonlight that night—he was worrying about me.

“If it weren’t an order, I would never have left the Cult Leader’s side.”

Hui kept denying it. He wanted it to appear as though it had been my father’s will, not his own.

“You don’t need to be conscious of me. From this moment on, I’ll be with you, but as someone invisible.”

Of course. There were probably only a handful of people in the world capable of detecting a hidden Hui.

Would the King of Killing be one of them?

At that moment, I remembered something my father once said.

—If you’re going to put Hui at the front, then you take responsibility and protect him.

My father had sent Hui to me not only to guard me, but also because he trusted that I would protect Hui in return.

Hui may only be thinking about protecting me, but we needed to protect each other.

“Uncle, I look forward to your support.”

“And I to yours.”

Naturally, I couldn’t let the moment pass without a little joke.

I threw both arms up in joy.

“Then starting now, I’ll let my guard down completely!”

It was right then, just as Hui was smiling.

Our eyes turned toward the door at the same time.

Hui disappeared without a sound, revealing why he was the finest practitioner of stealth in the era.

Soon, there was a knock at the main gate.

When I opened the door, to my surprise, Myungshin was standing there.

With transparent eyes that betrayed no emotion, he said,

“I don’t have ten million nyang, but I’ve got enough for a drink. What do you say? Care to join me for a glass?”

So Uncle was right. The moment you let your guard down, an assassin appears.