Absolute Regression

Chapter 526: If It’s That Kind of Request, Go Ask the Martial Alliance

Dan Ah wanted to refuse.

She had a strong feeling that it would be best to avoid this particular commission at all costs.

Of course, refusing a commission was something intermediaries hated the most. Naturally, wanderers who frequently refused requests were no longer given jobs.

However, they had a reputation built steadily over the past ten years. That reputation allowed them to turn down this commission.

Even so, there was one thing that held her back.

Dan Ah’s gaze turned to the woman who stood frozen, waiting for her fate, clearly terrified.

‘If we give up, this woman will die.’

That conviction hit her hard. It was that thick stench of death clinging in the air that made her want to step away.

Dan Ah looked at her younger sisters. Having been together for so long, they already knew exactly what was troubling their older sister, just from this moment of hesitation.

They showed no reaction. At times like this, they fully entrusted the decision to their elder sister.

Eventually, Dan Ah made her decision.

“We’ll escort you to the Sky Flower Pavilion in Guizhou.”

Relief briefly flashed across the face of the woman who had been waiting for the decision.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s leave immediately.”

As they turned to walk away, Chohee spoke from behind.

“My name is Chohee.”

Dan Ah responded without turning back.

“That’s a lovely name.”

It was at that moment, as the four of them were descending the hermitage.

Shwik!

A hidden weapon shot toward Chohee.

Cheng!

Dan Ah swung her sword and deflected it with a sharp clang, shouting at once.

“Up in the tree to the left!”

But even before her warning was complete, the youngest, Dan Yeon, had already thrown her dagger. It pierced cleanly through the branches.

A masked figure, struck by the dagger, fell from the tree.

From the opposite side, more hidden weapons sliced through the air with a piercing whistle.

“Run!”

Dan Ah grabbed Chohee and leapt down the stairs in a bound.

Pak pak pak!

The incoming weapons embedded themselves into the spot where Chohee had just stood.

Dan Bi and Dan Yeon, who had leapt down from both sides, deflected the flying weapons with their swords. Enemies had already surrounded the hermitage. The situation was grave. The meeting point had been exposed—which meant the intermediary had been compromised. R̃ÀŊŏ𝖇Ɛ𝐬

While deflecting hidden weapons, the three women retaliated with thrown daggers. In particular, the youngest, Dan Yeon, was highly skilled in dagger arts, and her blades struck down masked attackers one after another.

“Behind that rock!”

The four of them dove behind the rock.

Papapapapak!

The barrage of weapons clanged against the rock at the very last second as they took cover.

Despite the swift response, blood was flowing from Dan Bi’s shoulder.

“You okay?”

“It grazed me. I’m fine.”

But when Dan Yeon checked the wound, her eyes widened in shock. The wound had swollen up with a sickly bluish hue.

“Poison.”

At Dan Yeon’s cry, a curse burst from Dan Ah’s mouth.

“Those damn bastards!”

She was the most foul-mouthed among the three sisters.

Dan Yeon swiftly took out a medicine bottle from her bosom and applied it to Dan Bi’s wound. It was a temporary antidote that could delay the spread of the poison.

“She won’t last long! We have to get out of here—!”

Just then, masked assailants leapt over the rock and launched their attack.

Shiiiik! Puk!

Dan Ah’s sword pierced the side of a masked attacker lunging at Chohee and then ripped through his flesh.

Puaaaargh!

The sword that tore through his side immediately thrust into the neck of the next masked attacker charging forward. Blood splattered all over her face, but there was no time to wipe it away. Swords clashed, striking sparks, and hidden weapons crossed paths, drawing two arcs through the air.

Dan Yeon’s dagger flew and struck the neck of a masked figure who had closed in from behind her sister. The sword that had been about to strike down lost its force and merely slashed through the air.

Behind the collapsing masked attacker, more surged forward. As sunlight glinted off the blades of their swords, Dan Ah hurled herself toward them and shouted.

“Dodge!”

*         *         *

Clunk.

The carriage jolted violently as it passed over a broken patch of road.

“My apologies!”

The urgent shout came from Seo Daeryong.

From inside the carriage, Geom Mugeuk’s voice rang out.

“Father spilled his tea all over his face.”

Of course, it was Geom Mugeuk’s prank. He hadn’t forgotten the joke made at the start of the journey—when Seo Daeryong had volunteered to drive the carriage, someone had said, “If the carriage jolts, heads will roll.”

Suddenly sobered, Seo Daeryong asked Hui.

“Shall I hand over the reins?”

It would’ve made sense after his mistake, but Hui shook his head and let Seo Daeryong continue driving the carriage.

“The road is rough. Stay focused.”

At first, Seo Daeryong had driven with absolute concentration. But the human heart was fickle—once he grew a little used to it, his mind wandered. Without realizing, he found himself thinking of the woman he had met at the inn.

‘Driving the Cult Leader’s carriage, and here I am daydreaming. I’m out of my mind.’

Seo Daeryong forcefully shook off his thoughts and tightened his grip on the reins.

Geom Mugeuk stuck his head out of the carriage window.

As the carriage left the open road and entered a narrow trail, the scenery, which had once felt slow like wielding a heavy sword, now sped by like switching to a swift blade.

“Why does the return trip always feel faster than when we first departed?”

To that, Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied without lifting his eyes from the book he was reading.

“What’s got the Young Cult Leader feeling so wistful?”

Feeling the wind blow across his face, Geom Mugeuk answered.

“I wonder the same. Why do I feel so wistful?”

His gaze turned toward Seo Daeryong seated at the coachman’s bench.

It was clear that today’s lingering sentiment wasn’t just due to memories with his father.

“Branch Leader Seo, watch out for that ditch!”

*         *         *

Clunk.

Dan Ah slammed the barn door shut. She was covered in blood.

Fortunately, it was all the enemies’ blood. The real problem was her second sister, Dan Bi.

The wound she had taken earlier from the poisoned weapon was swelling more and more.

Dan Ah grabbed Chohee by the collar.

“You! What on earth have you gotten yourself into?”

Run when told to run, duck when told to duck—Chohee, who had followed without a moment to think, finally came to her senses.

“I’m sorry.”

She had requested an escort despite knowing she was in grave danger. It was an unavoidable choice, but because of her, they were now caught in a perilous situation.

“Do you even know who’s attacking us?!”

Dan Ah had fallen into despair the moment she recognized who their enemies were.

The Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit.

They, too, were wanderers. But unlike themselves, who walked in the light, this unit belonged to the darkest part of the shadows. Among pursuit units, the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit was particularly brutal and infamous.

Breaking through even one squad of theirs had been nothing short of a miracle. But this wasn’t a job that would end simply by killing a dozen of them.

They swarmed like ants, relentlessly chasing until the target was eliminated.

That this unit had been mobilized meant someone had spent a fortune to have Chohee hunted down.

But for what reason would anyone go to such lengths for a mere courtesan?

Now wasn’t the time to argue about the reasons.

They would be here any moment.

“How’s Bi Ah?”

At Dan Ah’s question, Dan Yeon responded with concern.

“We’ve barely managed to keep the poison from spreading, but if she pushes herself any more, it’ll spread through her whole body.”

Dan Ah’s gaze shifted to Dan Yeon’s side. She parted the blood-soaked hem of her clothes to reveal a gash from a blade.

“When did you get cut?”

“Earlier. I stopped the bleeding, but it reopened when I ran.”

She’d been so caught up in the fight, she hadn’t even realized her younger sister had been wounded.

“You—!”

“I’m fine. I’m not dying, I’m fine!”

But the pale color on her face clearly showed the youngest wasn’t in good shape either.

Dan Ah once again pressed the pressure point near her sister’s wound to stop the bleeding, then took out Golden Wound Medicine and applied it.

“Lie down and rest for now.”

“Yeah, I’ll lie down a bit.”

Watching her two younger sisters lie down, Dan Ah was filled with regret. She should never have taken this commission. She had felt how wrong it was from the start.

“I’m sorry.”

At Chohee’s words, Dan Ah didn’t take it out on her. She was the client, nothing more. The decision to take the job had been hers.

“It’s alright.”

“Shouldn’t we find a physician for your sister first?”

How she wished they could. But taking her to a physician was out of the question. In situations like this, those bastards searched clinics first. That was the foundation of any pursuit technique.

“If the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit is involved, there’s no way we’ll make it to Guizhou. We have to ask someone—anyone—for help.”

She pulled out a map from her bosom.

It was one she had personally made to use in emergencies. On it were marked sects they could turn to for help. Sects with even the smallest connections.

But with the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit on their trail, they couldn’t possibly turn to an ordinary sect for help. Those bastards wouldn’t hesitate to storm a sect and carry out a massacre just to kill their target.

“We need to ask the Martial Alliance for help.”

But it was too far. They’d have to leave this village and travel another thirty miles to reach the local branch of the Martial Alliance. With her injured sisters, and needing to protect Chohee on top of that, making it there was impossible.

Besides, the enemy might already be guarding that route, expecting them to go there.

Just then, something caught Dan Ah’s eye.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Jeongan Branch.

Not far from here was a branch of the Demonic Cult.

But if they barged in and asked for help without thinking, they could end up in even more danger than from the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit.

Then, suddenly, she recalled the man she had seen yesterday.

—I belong to the Divine Cult.

The words he’d spoken as he turned away, and the inscription on the large blade he carried.

Musang.

The meaning didn’t suit the innocent look in his eyes as he had bashfully glanced her way.

At that moment, Dan Yeon, who had been lying down, asked quietly.

“What are you thinking?”

Dan Ah bit her lip and replied.

“A crazy idea.”

*         *         *

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Jeongan Branch was a small local branch with only about twenty permanent members.

Unless a war broke out, what could possibly happen at a branch of the Demonic Cult? Every day was peaceful there, and the person in charge was the Branch Leader, Kang Dal.

“Branch Leader, you might want to come out.”

Upon his subordinate’s report, he stepped outside—only to find something completely unexpected.

At the entrance to the Jeongan Branch, four women stood with their backs to the gate, surrounded by a group of masked attackers.

The women were Dan Ah’s group, and the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit had chased them all the way here.

“Please open the gate! I have something to say to the Branch Leader!”

Because of the cult members guarding the entrance, the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit had only encircled them and hadn’t dared to launch an attack.

Just then, the gates opened and Kang Dal emerged.

About a dozen cult members from the branch followed him out.

Kang Dal first looked at Dan Ah’s group.

The only one standing upright, holding a sword still dripping blood, was Dan Ah.

Chohee was caring for the unconscious Dan Bi, cradling her head in her lap, while Dan Yeon lay asleep beside her. Their bodies were covered in wounds—it was remarkable they had even made it this far.

In front of the four women, a dozen masked attackers formed a half-circle, closing them in.

Kang Dal looked up at the signboard above the entrance. He wondered for a moment if maybe the sign had fallen down and that’s why this madness was happening—but the signboard of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Jeongan Branch was still firmly in place.

Just then, a subordinate quietly spoke.

“The masked ones are from the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit.”

At those words, Kang Dal’s expression twisted. He knew them well—those vicious bastards who’d kill friends or family alike if the money was good enough.

“Those lunatics being here is one thing, but who the hell are you lot?”

At Kang Dal’s question, Dan Ah replied.

“We are the Three Dan Sisters—wanderers. Please, we ask for your help.”

“For that kind of request, you should’ve gone to the Martial Alliance’s branch.”

Kang Dal glanced over at the masked men.

“Clean this up and get out. If even a drop of blood is left behind, you’re dead.”

It was an order to kill and leave—quietly.

Kang Dal turned and was about to head back inside.

“A master of the Divine Cult sent us here.”

For a moment, Kang Dal froze. His eyes turned back toward her, cold.

“Which master?”

Of course, Kang Dal assumed the woman was lying to save herself. He had received no such word.

“He left from the Swallow Tail Inn yesterday. He was short and carried a large blade. The blade had the word ‘Peerless’ engraved on it.”

A moment of silence passed.

Then Kang Dal asked again.

“Who is that?”

After a short pause, she answered.

“I don’t know either.”

At that, a cold murmur escaped Kang Dal’s lips.

“This crazy bitch.”

Yes—this was madness, even by her own standards. But she had made her choice, and now there was no way out. In front of them was the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit. Behind them was the Demonic Cult.

“He didn’t give his name, but he told me that if anything happened, I should seek help here.”

She had lied to the Branch Leader of the Demonic Cult—it was truly a gamble with her life.

Even if they did receive help, if the man she saw at the inn wasn’t really a cult member, or was just some low-ranking martial artist, they’d be killed by these very cult members.

“I’m sure he outranks you. If you save us, you live. But if we die here, you’ll die too.”

It was right then that more members of the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit arrived. Around ten more showed up, bringing their numbers to over twenty. It seemed they were all converging here.

And yet, the bastards showed no fear of him or the cult members. In fact, they openly emanated killing intent—just wait until we’re all assembled, their stance seemed to say.

‘These bastards... they’ve got a death wish!’

But Kang Dal simply turned away and said,

“Close the gate.”

Then came a desperate plea.

“Please, at least let the other three in.”

Kang Dal turned back to Dan Ah.

“I’m fine. Just let the three of them in. When that man shows up later, you’ll need something to say to him, right?”

Dan Ah had resolved to die fighting alone.

Kang Dal looked at her in silence, then said something unexpected.

“If you three sisters are wanderers, then it must be that woman they’re after.”

He looked at Chohee.

“Either way, those bastards are after her. So we’ll take in you three and leave her out.”

Dan Ah turned to Chohee. Holding Dan Bi in her arms, Chohee gave a slight nod. Her gaze said, At least you three should survive.

Dan Ah said to Kang Dal,

“Please take only my sisters in. That woman and I will stay outside.”

If she could at least save her sisters, that would be enough. Chohee shook her head in protest, but Dan Ah was not the type to abandon her client, even if it meant throwing her life away.

Kang Dal looked at her, then abruptly spoke.

“If you’d tried to come in alone, none of you would’ve been allowed inside.”

In other words—

“All of you, come in.”

The Jeongan Branch had accepted them.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you so much.”

Dan Ah and Chohee looked at each other in relief. Chohee bowed her head and expressed her gratitude to Dan Ah.

As her sisters were carried inside, Dan Ah and Chohee entered as well.

Kang Dal suppressed Dan Ah’s internal energy and confiscated her sword. She did not resist and accepted it calmly. His suspicion was only natural.

Kang Dal gave his subordinates an order.

“Who knows what those lunatics outside will do. Sound the alarm and wake everyone up.”

“Understood.”

“And send an urgent transmission to the Heavenly Communication Pavilion. Report the situation.”

At that moment, Dan Ah stepped forward. She meant to say, Include what I said as well.

“Add what that woman said earlier. A short man wielding a large blade with the word ‘Peerless’ engraved on it. What inn was it?”

She quickly responded to his question.

“Swallow Tail Inn.”

“Urgently seek the man who left Swallow Tail Inn yesterday.”

“Yes, sir!”

The cult members began moving quickly. Martial artists in armor emerged from the buildings, and hidden weapons were being distributed from weapon chests.

“If you made up that nonsense just to escape those bastards, you’d better be prepared.”

Despite Kang Dal’s threat, Dan Ah showed no fear. The wheel of fate had already begun to turn.

“Return my sword and release my internal energy. If a fight breaks out, you’ll definitely need me.”

She stood tall even before the Branch Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. In truth, what moved Kang Dal’s heart was her composure. Her courage to stay behind and protect her client.

And then, Dan Ah added one final sentence—a line Kang Dal could never fully understand.

“Because I want to live long enough to hear that poem again.”