Absolute Regression

 Chapter 532: The Most Famous Mask in the Martial World

The carriage kept running.

There was no time to appreciate the scenery. Trees and flowers, their names unknown, swept past in a blur, and the scent of dust pricked at her nose.

Though it was said that they were still being followed, Chohee felt more at ease than before.

Because of those words—he would take her to the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress even if the entire Martial World tried to stop him. She could feel that he truly meant it. And she, more than anyone, could tell when a man was lying.

Her eyes flicked toward Geom Mugeuk, who was driving the carriage.

The more she looked, the more remarkable he seemed.

‘What kind of story does he have with the Pavilion Mistress?’

She was curious about the relationship between this man and the Pavilion Mistress.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke.

“They must be getting desperate.”

“Pardon?”

In that instant, Chohee's body soared into the air. Geom Mugeuk had wrapped his arm around her waist and leapt.

Suddenly airborne by Geom Mugeuk’s motion, Chohee was overwhelmed. The sound of flying weapons whooshed past her ears.

Shwik, shwik, shwik, shwik, shwik!

The sound of objects striking.

Pak, pak, pak, pak, pak!

In a flash, masked assailants, sky, trees, and ground streaked past her vision.

Swaaaaash!

It was the first time she had ever heard the sound of sword energy being emitted from a blade. And so close.

Thump.

When she regained her senses, she was already sitting inside the now-stopped carriage.

She turned her head to see the bodies of the masked assailants collapsed nearby. She hadn’t seen how they died. Everything had happened in an instant and was already over.

Geom Mugeuk was crouched, examining the corpses.

As she moved to step out of the carriage, he spoke without turning around.

“Be careful getting down. They're poisoned.”

As if to confirm it hadn’t been a dream, several gleaming, bluish poisoned weapons were embedded in the side of the carriage.

The thought that dozens of such deadly weapons had flown through the air, and she and the Young Cult Leader had flown through them, made her heart sink belatedly.

She hesitated, her foot slipping slightly as she tried to get down, suddenly afraid of being cut by one of the weapons. She sat back down.

“This time they hired assassins.”

Just from the way they attacked, Geom Mugeuk had recognized them as assassins. Still, he inspected the bodies to determine where they came from. But there were no traces to be found.

“Those who seek to kill the young lady are thoroughly hiding their identity.”

First they had hired wanderers, and now assassins. The Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit had been one thing, but the skill level of these assassins was also top-tier.

Anyone with the resources to hire such skilled individuals surely had trustworthy experts of their own. And yet, they were relying on external blades to carry out their work. Using people who were nearly untraceable.

After checking all the bodies, Geom Mugeuk returned to the carriage.

Chohee could tell that the reason Geom Mugeuk was letting the pursuers be, was to learn more about the enemy.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to kill the ones following us and avoid attacks, even getting there a bit earlier?’

That thought crossed her mind, but she didn’t voice it. She had entrusted everything to Geom Mugeuk, so she had to trust him too. Even if she didn’t know what it was that he believed in.

Before getting back into the carriage, when Geom Mugeuk extended his hand, the poisoned weapons embedded in the carriage slid out on their own. Geom Mugeuk buried the poison-laced weapons deep underground.

It was another moment when Chohee discovered what made Geom Mugeuk so unique. Any ordinary martial artist would have just yanked them out and tossed them aside. But he worried that someone might unknowingly pick them up and die if they were discarded along the roadside.

The feeling that this wasn’t just for show unsettled her. After all, the man was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Chohee bowed her head and expressed her gratitude politely.

“No need for thanks. Then, let’s get going.”

He could’ve easily made a lighthearted joke or sought credit, yet Geom Mugeuk simply resumed driving the carriage.

Chohee stared quietly at Geom Mugeuk, then took a deep breath to steady herself. She never knew when she might suddenly be soaring through the sky again.

The second ambush came two nights later.

Chohee had been sleeping beside a campfire.

How long had she slept?

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly woke. As soon as she opened her eyes, she was startled.

Drops of blood were dripping down onto her body. A masked figure loomed before her, a dagger pointed directly at her throat.

But Geom Mugeuk’s sword was already embedded in the man’s heart.

Geom Mugeuk shoved the man’s body aside, letting it collapse beside her.

“He was an assassin with impressive stealth and infiltration skills.”

Geom Mugeuk examined the corpse. He wanted to determine what group had sent him, but the assassin had no tattoos or scars on his body.

She bowed her head once more.

“You saved me again.”

It was thanks to the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique that she had been saved. No matter how faint the presence, it couldn’t deceive the perfected Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique.

“You’re probably wide awake now, but try to get more sleep.”

Geom Mugeuk buried the assassin’s body.

Chohee understood. Geom Mugeuk hadn’t buried the bodies of other enemies before, but this time, he had done it for her. Because he couldn’t leave her to sleep next to a corpse.

As she sat by the campfire, staring into the flames, she brought up something she had never spoken of before.

“The Pavilion Mistress created an intelligence network within the Sky Flower Pavilion. It's both a courtesan house and an information organization.”

When people get drunk, all sorts of words come out. And in that sense, no place was more suited to extracting the secrets of the Martial World than a courtesan house.

“Of course, not every courtesan deals in information. Those who do are called ‘Secret Flowers’. I’m one of them.”

Now that she trusted the Young Cult Leader, she revealed her secret. It had taken great resolve to speak of it, yet Geom Mugeuk’s response was surprisingly calm.

“Did you already know?”

At her question, Geom Mugeuk nodded. He had known. That the Sky Flower Pavilion Master was gathering information across the Martial World for the Evil Smiling Demon. He simply hadn’t known the specific detail that those who handled information were called Secret Flowers.

Now she was certain—this Young Cult Leader indeed had a deep connection to the Sky Flower Pavilion.

“Please get some rest. We’ll depart early tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

After a short while, as she lay turned away, she asked,

“Will the Pavilion Master be alright?”

Given how persistently they were trying to kill her, she suddenly grew worried for the safety of the Sky Flower Pavilion Master. Of course, there were skilled martial artists guarding the Pavilion Master, but what if someone as skilled as the assassin from earlier attacked?

She hoped for reassurance, but Geom Mugeuk’s response struck like lightning.

“They’re likely trying to kill the Pavilion Master too. They may have already attempted it.”

Startled, Chohee sat upright.

“Do you really think so?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded again.

“If they can’t kill the person delivering the information, then killing the person receiving it would suffice, wouldn’t it?”

“!”

Chohee was briefly lost in thought, unable to speak.

Then, suddenly, she shouted,

“Please! Go and save the Pavilion Master!”

Normally calm by nature, she became agitated now that the Pavilion Master’s safety was involved. Geom Mugeuk suspected she valued the Pavilion Master’s life more than her own.

“Please! I’m begging you, go and save the Pavilion Master! You said yourself you were close enough to bring me even if the whole Martial World stood in your way!”

In contrast, Geom Mugeuk remained calm.

“That’s right, I did say that.”

“Then go now! Don’t worry about me. I’ll hide anywhere and wait. Please, just go and save her.”

Now, Geom Mugeuk revealed the reason behind his composure.

“You don’t need to worry. I already set countermeasures in place.”

“Countermeasures?”

Her eyes trembled in surprise.

“She’s that important to me—do you think I would have left her unguarded? I’m not an optimist.”

If he hadn’t had a plan, he would’ve carried her on his back and rushed off using Star Light Step.

“The day I heard you wanted to meet the Sky Flower Pavilion Master, I immediately sent an emergency letter. So now, we only need to focus on our task.”

“To whom?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at her with a meaningful smile.

“To someone I always wish to see, no matter where they are or what they’re doing.”

*         *         *

A group of martial artists arrived at the main division of the Sky Flower Pavilion in Guizhou.

Their movements were agile. Just by their lightness arts, it was clear their martial skills were no ordinary matter. And from the cold gleam in their eyes, their ruthless nature was apparent.

They were known as the most heartless among the wanderers.

These men were the Ghost Slayers Squad, a mercenary group of former assassins.

True to their assassin origins, they harbored not a shred of hesitation when it came to killing. If a parent stood in the way, they would cut the parent down. If a child blocked their path, they would cut the child down. Cold-blooded killers who would slay even a ghost if the price was right—hence the name Ghost Slayers.

If the Seven-Route Pursuit and Assassination Unit was the darkness among the wanderers who chased people, then the Ghost Slayers Squad was the darkness among those hired to kill.

Standing at the front of the group was the Ghost Slayer Squad Leader, the man who led the Squad. He was known to have succeeded in fifty missions during his days as an assassin, unmatched in both skill and brutality.

“Kill everyone—courtesans and clients alike! Leave not a single soul alive!”

Even at the squad leader's order, the Ghost Slayers did not emit even the faintest murderous aura. They showed no anticipation for the bloodbath to come.

For these seasoned killers, what was about to unfold was nothing more than routine work. No different from hauling goods or selling wares for ordinary people.

One of the Ghost Slayers looked at a building aglow with vibrant lights and said,

“Perfect music for a journey to the afterlife!”

Whether they sensed the invasion of these butchers or not, cheerful music played from inside the Sky Flower Pavilion.

The Ghost Slayers simultaneously vaulted over the wall.

They had expected to see at least a welcoming courtesan or servant, but the courtyard was empty.

Because of that, they managed to dash inside undetected.

The first floor of the Sky Flower Pavilion was structured like a plaza, with guest rooms arranged on all sides around a central space.

“Clear the first floor and move up!”

At the squad leader’s command, the Ghost Slayers flung open the first door.

Just as they were about to storm in and butcher those inside, the Ghost Slayer who opened the door flinched.

The moment the door opened, a bizarre sight struck his eyes.

Inside sat men wearing white masks.

‘What the hell? Who are these lunatics?!’

The masks were pure white, with only holes for the eyes. Each mask wore a smile like an upturned crescent moon. The shape of the crescent varied slightly from mask to mask.

The reason the Ghost Slayer was startled was because the eyes behind those smiling slits were not smiling. That eerie discord chilled him to the bone.

“What the hell are those things?”

Another Ghost Slayer from behind asked, and the one in the lead responded,

“Those are the masks worn by the Faceless Swordsmen.”

At the mention of the Faceless Swordsmen, everyone's expressions stiffened.

But then, someone scoffed.

“Ridiculous!”

The most famous mask in the Martial World was that of the Faceless Swordsmen. It was the mask sold in every market, the one that always appeared when children played sword-fighting games.

“Is today some kind of company dinner for the Faceless Swordsmen?”

Laughter spread among them. Naturally, they didn’t believe these were actual Faceless Swordsmen.

The Faceless Swordsmen were infamous for never removing their masks in front of others. There was no way the Faceless Swordsmen would appear in a courtesan house like this.

“If you wanted to come here, you should’ve poked a hole for a mouth, not just for the eyes!”

“You guys don’t even accept courtesans, do you?”

Just then, the Ghost Slayer Squad Leader cut them off coldly.

“Enough.”

With that one word, the laughter vanished from the Ghost Slayers’ faces. They were just about to storm in and slaughter everyone when—

Srrrk.

A door beside them slid open.

Ordinarily, a drunk guest would be expected to stumble out supported by a courtesan.

The Ghost Slayers were startled once again.

Inside that room too, men wearing white masks were seated.

This time, no one dared speak recklessly.

Even though they were drawing their swords, those men did not react at all.

On the contrary, the masked figures sat in complete silence, yet exuded an overwhelming presence. The eyes behind the gaping holes in their masks were all smiling.

‘What the hell are these freaks?!’

It was eerie and unsettling, but even then, they still doubted it could be real.

Srrk, srrk, srrrrk.

Doors began opening in succession. As the surrounding doors opened one by one, a stunning sight unfolded.

Inside every room sat figures wearing masks.

The lively music that had filled the building came to an abrupt stop.

In the silence, the masked Faceless Swordsmen all turned their gaze toward the Ghost Slayers. The blank masks, with only eyeholes, made their silent stares all the more grotesque and horrifying.

The Ghost Slayers instinctively gathered at the center. Pressured by the sheer force of presence, they found themselves backing away. Since the day they began operating as the Ghost Slayers Squad, this was the first time they had felt such fear.

The Squad Leader drew his sword. In battle, momentum was everything.

“They can’t possibly be the real Faceless Swordsmen. Just some bastards imitating demons—kill every last one of them!”

And in that very moment—

Shwoop!

A sharp breeze brushed past their ears.

Immediately followed by a dull thud.

The Ghost Slayers turned toward the source of the sound.

Their eyes widened in shock.

All eyes were now fixed on the Squad Leader.

The Squad Leader looked at the others with an expression that said, “Why are you looking at me?”

Drip.

A warm liquid began trickling down his forehead and over his face.

He reached up and touched his forehead. There was a hole in it.

“Damn..it!”

That single curse was all he could utter before he collapsed backward—dead.

The Ghost Slayers were horrified. That such a lethal strike had been made without the Squad Leader even attempting to dodge? They couldn’t believe what they had seen.

Who could have done it? In a panic, the Ghost Slayers looked around. All the white masks aimed at them were still smiling.

Then, one of the Ghost Slayers pointed with a trembling finger.

“……There!”

Far off, there was one room whose door had not yet opened.

And in the middle of that closed door… was a single hole.