Absolute Regression

Chapter 524: The Heroines Have Sent Their Dishes

Hui, who was driving the carriage, looked up at the sky.

Dark clouds were gathering, looking as if they could pour rain at any moment.

“Today, we’ll stop by the village.”

Hui turned the carriage toward a nearby village, changing direction from the original route.

Geom Mugeuk leaned out the window and spoke.

“It would be nice if this village had a beautiful young lady who could catch the fancy of our Underworld Pavilion Leader.”

At those words, the face of Seo Daeryong, seated at the driver’s bench, turned red. Of course, he didn’t back down.

“I’ll recite poetry for that lady!”

Just then, a thunderclap sounded from afar.

Kwaaarrung!

Seo Daeryong flinched.

‘Of all times, why now!’

As he sulked, the voice of Blood Heaven Blade Demon rang out.

“Looks aren’t everything. A man is all about his heart!”

Encouraged by his master’s words, Seo Daeryong’s expression brightened.

“Yes! Master! It’s the heart that matters!”

Really, if he were just a little closer with Hui, he would have asked. Master Hui, what about you? Is it the heart? It is, right?

Feeling his excitement in the wind, Geom Mugeuk, who had been leaning out the window, smiled silently. Yes, if someone came to know what kind of person you are, what woman wouldn’t fall for you?

As the carriage entered the marketplace, the road widened.

Next to a fruit seller arguing with a customer over whether to give one more apple, an elderly herb vendor was putting up a tarp in preparation for the rain.

A street vendor selling dumplings gestured for Hui and Seo Daeryong to try some, while a clerk at the fabric store was gathering up the silk displayed outside.

Children darted between the loud chatter and delicious smells.

Geom Woojin silently watched the unfolding scene outside the window.

If the first goal of this trip was to build memories with his father, then the second was this very moment. It was his wish for his father to witness every corner of the Central Plains with his own eyes.

Father, when war breaks out, we will focus only on where, how, and how many of our sect’s warriors are killing and dying. But in the meantime, that merchant over there will die, and so will those children. Their numbers won’t appear in our statistics.

That’s why. As precious as it is to share memories in the fields, it’s even more meaningful when Father leaves a promissory note for that elderly couple’s grandchild’s wedding.

So every one of these moments is play, yes, but also a duel between Father and me.

The carriage came to a stop in front of the largest inn in the village.

After securing all six rooms on the second floor, Hui asked the innkeeper to ensure that no other guests or servers would come upstairs.

After deciding to unpack and get some rest before eating, everyone went into their rooms.

Whenever he had time alone, Geom Mugeuk would always enter the space of the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique and train by invoking the Heavenly Time Secret Art. ṙ₳𐌽ỐʙËꞩ

But today, he lay sprawled out on the bed.

Sometimes, when immersed in training, he would think, So this is what it means to be consumed by martial arts. If he trained on a day like today, that exact thought would likely cross his mind. Rest. Let’s just rest today.

Lying on the bed, he blankly stared at the dark clouds outside the window and soon dozed off.

How long had he slept?

Ssswaaahhhhh—

The sound of pouring rain woke him. Waking up to the sound of rain—he found it unexpectedly pleasant.

Then, he suddenly remembered how he used to hate the rain before his regression. When he had wandered alone searching for materials for the Great Regression Technique and got caught in the rain, the loneliness and gloom would only intensify.

But now, he liked the rain.

Lounging on the bed while listening to the rain—this leisure was something he wouldn’t trade with anyone in the world.

But only for a moment. Perhaps because he had spent his life constantly running and fighting, his body started itching to move. He couldn’t stay still any longer.

He got up from the bed and stepped outside the room.

Across the hall, in front of Seo Daeryong’s door, he sensed the presence inside. He wondered if he was asleep, but he was awake.

“What are you doing? Can I come in?”

“Yes, please come in.”

When he opened the door and entered, Seo Daeryong was reading a book. It was the poetry and painting collection that Blood Heaven Blade Demon had bought him.

“Is it interesting?”

“It’s not exactly fun… but while reading, there are lines that unknowingly make me fall into deep thought.”

Maybe it was because he already knew Seo Daeryong was smart and studied hard, but the sight of him reading a poetry collection suited him quite well.

“Since it’s raining, shall we have a drink?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s suggestion, Seo Daeryong closed the book as if he had been waiting for it.

“That sounds great.”

They stepped out of the room and passed by the rooms of Father, Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and Hui.

As Geom Mugeuk playfully slowed his steps, Seo Daeryong whispered from behind, as if expecting it.

“You mustn’t!”

A drinking session with Father and the Blade Demon? It was obvious how hard that would be for the kid.

When they came down to the first floor, about a dozen guests were eating and drinking here and there.

Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong sat in a spot with a clear view of the outside and ordered some liquor and side dishes.

The rain was pouring refreshingly.

The small bamboo plants next to the building in front of the inn swayed in the rain, and ripples constantly spread through the puddles.

Travelers wearing raincoats and bamboo hats dashed by in front of them, and in the distance, some people were sheltering under the eaves. Just watching it all brought peace of mind.

Before long, the drinks and dishes arrived.

"Have a drink, Young Cult Leader."

Seo Daeryong respectfully poured the drink. Geom Mugeuk, who received the liquor, also filled Seo Daeryong’s cup in return.

"It’s been a while. Just the two of us drinking like this."

"I’ve been looking forward to it."

No matter what anyone said, he missed Geom Mugeuk and wanted to be with him.

The two of them emptied their first cups in one refreshing gulp.

Then, after refilling their cups, they silently gazed at the rain. With the sound of rain filling the air, they didn’t even need any side dishes.

"The smell of rain is nice."

At Geom Mugeuk’s comment, Seo Daeryong flared his nostrils.

"Rain has a smell?"

"It does."

"Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever consciously tried to smell the rain before."

There are things you’ll never notice unless you pay attention, and scents you’ll never catch unless you’re aware of them.

"This smell of rain today is good."

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Seo Daeryong breathed in deeply through his nose.

Drinking with the sound of rain, sipping while reminiscing about the past.

That’s how they exchanged drinks, back and forth.

"When did you learn to fish?"

To think he had beaten the Cult Leader three times—it had to be genuine skill. Young Cult Leader, is there anything you can’t do?

"You’re the one who was good at fishing."

"I just got lucky."

But Seo Daeryong’s eyes sparkled as if he had been waiting for this response. He looked around and lowered his voice.

"I still can’t forget that feeling in the hand."

He mimed gripping and releasing, pulling and pushing the fishing rod, unable to hide his excitement.

"Who would’ve thought I’d beat the Cult Leader and Master in fishing? This is just between you and me, Young Cult Leader. You must never tell anyone else. Even if we fish again, I’m confident I can outdo them in that. Master said it was beginner’s luck, but who knows? Maybe I was born with a talent for fishing."

Geom Mugeuk laughed and asked,

"That feeling in the hand—how does it compare to the first time you used the Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Strike?"

Seo Daeryong hesitated for a moment.

"As much as I enjoyed it, it can’t compare to the Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Strike."

It was at that very moment Seo Daeryong noticed something—Geom Mugeuk’s gaze was directed behind his back.

Startled, Seo Daeryong’s voice shrank to barely a whisper.

"It’s not, right? Please tell me it’s not."

Then came a cold voice from behind.

"You seemed to be thinking pretty hard while choosing which ‘feeling in the hand’ was better."

At the sound of Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s voice, Seo Daeryong shot to his feet.

"Oh no, it’s not like that, Master."

And it wasn’t just the Master standing there. Geom Woojin was beside Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Surely they didn’t hear the part about thinking he could beat the Cult Leader at fishing?

"If the feeling in your hand is that good, maybe you should put down the blade and pick up a fishing rod instead."

"It’s not like that, Master. You misunderstood."

Seeing Seo Daeryong completely pale, Geom Mugeuk stepped in to help.

"I saw the two of you coming down and casually threw out some bait, and our Leader of the Underworld Pavilion took it so easily. Fishing for people is much more fun than catching fish. Come, have a seat over here."

And so, even Hui, who had been in the back, joined them, making five people gathered at one table. Geom Mugeuk went around and poured drinks for everyone.

The romantic mood that rain brings was the same for the Heavenly Demon, the Young Cult Leader, the Demon Supreme, the Chief of the Guards, and even the Leader of the Underworld Pavilion. Everyone gave in to the atmosphere and drank.

As he drank, Geom Mugeuk looked at his father.

Was it because of the rain? His father’s gaze looked especially forlorn today, and it wasn’t focused on the falling rain. What filled his eyes were surely fragments of memories.

‘Who are you thinking of right now?’

Even though they had grown closer, there were still moments like this when Geom Mugeuk realized how little he truly knew about his father.

Instead of asking his father directly, Geom Mugeuk turned to Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Do you think of anyone in particular on rainy days, Elder?"

Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.

"No one. What about you?"

"Same here. On rainy days, I hate how slippery it gets when I use light footwork. I’m living such a dry life, you see."

"You’re too young to be talking about life!"

Even while scolding him, Blood Heaven Blade Demon was smiling.

"But now I do."

"Now? What do you mean?"

"The people here. Sitting together like this, watching the rain—don’t you think, on some rainy day, we’ll remember today?"

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Blood Heaven Blade Demon thought of his master.

‘Master, you have never met someone who’s fake to their bones. No wonder you said I was putting on airs.’

Maybe the reason he’d even heard that kind of thing from his master in the first place was because of this genuine master of pretense.

‘You should’ve tasted this kind of pretense yourself, Master.’

Would your life have turned out differently? He’d told himself he wouldn’t think about his master anymore. But with the rain falling, the memories returned.

Ssswaaahhhhh—

And so, everyone, lost in their own thoughts, gazed out at the falling rain as they drank.

Just then, new guests entered the inn.

The newcomers were sword-bearing heroines. As they took seats and removed their raincoats and bamboo hats, Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened.

From the moment they entered, he had been pretending not to notice, but among the three women, one stood out and immediately caught his eye.

As he stared blankly for a moment, their eyes met.

Flustered inside, he watched as the woman lightly bowed her head in greeting. Seo Daeryong also returned the greeting with a polite fist-to-palm salute.

Among martial artists, it was a common greeting, yet Seo Daeryong’s heart pounded as if it had been struck with a hammer. It was an excitement too intense for him to handle alone.

―Did you see that just now? That lady greeted me. With a smile, even.

At Seo Daeryong’s excited sound transmission, Geom Mugeuk replied.

―The smile was meant for me.

―What are you saying! It was me. I’m certain it was for me.

Seo Daeryong tried to calm his excitement by drinking, but his heart only beat faster.

―Ah, but unfortunately, they seem to be orthodox ladies.

―Which might be a relief from their side.

―Young Cult Leader!

―Just kidding, sorry.

Geom Mugeuk laughed and poured another drink.

Seo Daeryong took another sip and glanced sideways at the ladies.

―Ah, we locked eyes again. That lady is definitely aware of me.

―Which one of the three?

―Don’t look!

Seo Daeryong felt a joyful thrill he hadn’t experienced in a long time. That sense of being alive, that feeling—I’m a man!

In that very moment, unable to contain his delight, a poem flowed from Seo Daeryong’s lips.

Before Geom Mugeuk could stop him, with his face flushed from drink, Seo Daeryong—transformed into a lonely swordsman on a rainy night—set forth into the darkness.

"…A lonely shadow hides in the wind, and the dream held within the rivers and lakes is answered by the sound of rain."

Until now, their conversation had taken place entirely via sound transmission, so it now seemed as though Seo Daeryong had suddenly broken into poetry out loud.

As the eyes of Geom Woojin, Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and Hui all turned toward him, Seo Daeryong suddenly realized what he had done.

In that brief moment, he hadn’t seen the Cult Leader or his Master. He was only thinking about impressing the ladies with a well-recited verse.

Had the poetry worked?

The ladies exchanged glances and whispered among themselves. Without doubt, they were talking about the poem he had just recited.

A short while later, the innkeeper brought over a dish.

"The heroines over there have sent this dish."

Geom Mugeuk asked,

"Who among us is it for?"

Seo Daeryong had been waiting for this very question.

―They said they appreciated the poem.

Then, the innkeeper placed the dish in front of someone. Everyone turned with surprise toward the recipient.

The dish was placed in front of Geom Woojin.

Still, Geom Woojin continued looking out at the falling rain, indifferent.

A silence fell over the group.

Seo Daeryong, in a desperate but still hopeful tone, sent another sound transmission.

―It’s probably not from my lady.

Geom Mugeuk had no energy to respond.

He looked back and forth between his father and the dish with eyes full of jealousy.

"It seems like it was delivered to the wrong person."

Geom Mugeuk pulled the dish toward himself.

"The innkeeper probably mistook us since we look alike at a glance. That sounds about right, doesn’t it?"

Just then, Geom Woojin—who had shown no reaction and kept his eyes on the rain—turned his head. With an unmistakable, proud victor’s smile, he pulled the dish back in front of himself.

"It’s mine."