Absolute Regression

Chapter 626: When Will the Person You Called Arrive?

"I can't believe it."

Gwak Yeong was deeply shocked upon learning that the White Dragon Branch Leader was involved in this incident.

She had thought it was possible that the merchant supplying materials to the Continental Iron Workshop was involved. But to hear that the White Dragon Branch Leader had colluded with the enemy?

‘Could this person be lying to me?’

How unbelievable must it have been for such a thought to even cross her mind?

But Gwak Yeong believed this man. That was precisely why such doubts had appeared.

‘If he were trying to deceive me, I'd fall for it without resistance.’

How many times had they even met? Yet she believed this man now, not the White Dragon Branch Leader.

"If it weren’t you saying it, I never would’ve believed it."

Normally, Geom Muyang wouldn’t have said anything. But for some reason, he offered a response.

"If you keep trusting people so easily, it'll be hard to survive in this world."

After a brief pause, Gwak Yeong spoke.

"You're not just anyone. You're the one who saved my younger brother. I have to believe you. Even if I can’t trust anyone else, I have to trust you. Even if the whole world speaks ill of you, I won’t."

As Geom Muyang stared at her intently, Gwak Yeong said to him,

"I know I’m putting a burden on you. But this is all I can do right now."

Geom Muyang, who had been gazing at her, turned his head to look out the window.

Just then, Ho Myeong entered the room.

"This is the information about the White Dragon Branch Leader sent from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion."

Geom Muyang took the sheets of paper Ho Myeong handed over and read them. They contained personal information about the White Dragon Branch Leader—his personality, and the path he took to rise to his position.

"His wife passed away early, and he has a daughter."

At that, Gwak Yeong shouted,

"His daughter must have been kidnapped!"

She had assumed everyone would think the same.

"Why do you think that?"

"What?"

"This might be something he chose to do of his own will."

At Geom Muyang’s question, Gwak Yeong was left speechless.

She had always thought the White Dragon Branch Leader was a good person. He had always greeted her with a warm smile.

But upon reflection, she realized she knew almost nothing about him.

If she were to be objective, the man reading the documents now probably knew more about him than she did, despite having known him for over ten years.

Was it truly not due to coercion, but a choice he had made?

"What are you going to do now?"

"We are going to meet the White Dragon Branch Leader."

"You think he'll agree to meet you?"

There was no way the White Dragon Branch Leader would agree to meet him. Even if he did, he would surely have numerous experts lying in ambush.

Then, Geom Muyang said something entirely unexpected.

"The one who’ll meet the White Dragon Branch Leader isn’t me. It’s you."

Gwak Yeong was startled. She could tell he wasn’t joking. That man had never once made a joke since they met.

"You're the one who said we should use you to catch them, remember?"

"That’s true, but…"

She knew it too. Hiding like this, constantly on the run, wasn’t going to solve anything.

To find her younger brother's whereabouts, she had to follow this lead. And right now, all they knew about the enemy was tied to the White Dragon Branch Leader.

But that wasn’t the point.

"You said if I went out there, my brother would die, didn’t you?"

Geom Muyang nodded.

"And you still want me to go?"

He nodded again. She felt more confusion than resentment. She knew well he wasn’t someone who would break a promise lightly.

"You promised you’d save my brother."

"I’m doing this to keep that promise."

Gwak Yeong stared intently at Geom Muyang. His eyes seemed to say those words. No, she wanted to believe they did.

If you’ve decided to trust, then trust to the end.

Last time, she had pleaded and screamed, begging not to be sent out. She had even said she’d cling to a straw and bury herself in the dirt if that’s what it took.

But this time, she didn’t say that. Even after saying all that before, he was still asking her to do this. Which meant this was something that had to be done.

"Alright, but make me one more promise."

She spoke honestly.

"If you’re going to save someone, make sure I’m saved too."

999

"Bring out some porridge."

The tavern owner was about to reply that they didn’t serve porridge, but flinched instead.

A martial artist with stark white hair and a sharply contoured face sat there, his expression full of irritation.

The owner, from years of experience, knew better than to provoke a guest like this.

"Yes, I’ll have it ready right away."

The martial artist was none other than Han Wolgaek.

He had spent the whole day running to and from the latrine and had only just begun to settle down. He had never experienced stomach trouble this bad before.

‘To think I can’t control it with my inner energy. Am I getting old?’

He didn’t even consider the possibility that someone might have caused the stomach pain on purpose.

He had eaten and drunk at Red Flower Pavilion, so he should have flipped the place upside down. But there was one reason he held back.

If word spread in the martial world that Han Wolgaek had an upset stomach and spent the whole day running to the latrine…

That was simply intolerable.

Not long after, the owner brought out the porridge.

After eating a bowl of it, he finally felt like he could breathe again. Just one day without food, and he was already this hungry.

At that moment, a small child entered the tavern and handed Han Wolgaek a note.

"A martial artist told me to give this to you."

Then the child scampered off.

After checking the note, Han Wolgaek incinerated it using Heat Yang Energy.

Fwoosh.

Those demonic cult bastards he didn’t kill yesterday—he would just kill them all today. Their wretched lives had only been spared a day longer out of mercy.

Han Wolgaek rose from his seat and stepped out of the tavern.

As he walked toward the entrance, he saw a familiar young man eating a meal.

‘Where have I seen him before?’

Then, his eyes caught sight of the gathering basket and the herb pouch placed beside the young man.

‘Ah! That guy!’

He remembered—the one crouching by the roadside, studying plants. He had scolded him, telling him to go swing a sword instead of wasting time like that. Of course, that young man was none other than the Poison King.

Han Wolgaek was about to pass him by but turned back and approached the Poison King.

This was the last person he had seen before falling ill. Just in case, he looked down at him. If the man had done anything suspicious, he wouldn’t have shown his face again so brazenly.

Oblivious to the fact that someone was standing before him and staring, the Poison King simply kept eating with his head lowered.

"Hey."

Only when Han Wolgaek called out did the Poison King raise his head.

"Why are you loitering around me?"

The Poison King had a completely blank look, as if he had no idea what Han Wolgaek was talking about. He didn’t even seem to recognize him.

I remember him, but he doesn’t remember me? That was strangely irritating and hurt his pride.

How dare he not remember me?

He was in a foul mood, but that wasn’t reason enough to lash out.

"Yeah, I guess if your brain’s slow, you’d better pick herbs diligently to survive."

Han Wolgaek turned away. One way or another, he was feeling pretty irritated.

Was forgetting a face really worth snapping over? Pathetic, truly petty.

That crossed his mind, but even so, he didn’t go back to apologize.

How far had he walked from the tavern?

Han Wolgaek began scratching his arm. It itched like a mosquito bite, but no amount of scratching made it better.

At first, it was his arm. Then his back started itching too.

‘Damn it, why am I suddenly so itchy?’

He rolled up his sleeve and saw tiny red rashes all over his arm. He flinched in surprise.

‘No way… did the porridge cause another reaction?’

It wasn’t just his arm. His back, stomach, legs, and even his butt—it all itched so badly he couldn’t bear it.

Dignity be damned—he stood right in the street, scratching furiously. Passersby took long detours to avoid him. The itch was so unbearable, he couldn’t even get angry.

He tried circulating his inner energy to stop it, but no method he knew could relieve this maddening itch.

Then, an old man who had been reading fortunes on the street spoke to him. What he said was enough to make Han Wolgaek forget even the itching.

"You, sir, have come to a place you should not have entered."

Han Wolgaek scratched himself as he looked at the fortune-teller. The old man's eyes had a certain depth to them, exuding an air of spiritual insight.

"What are you talking about?"

The fortune-teller spoke to Han Wolgaek.

"You came to chase away a demon, but instead, the demon has possessed you."

Han Wolgaek stood blankly for a moment, staring at the old man. He didn’t lash out immediately because the man had correctly guessed his purpose—he had indeed come to drive out a demon.

"Leave the land of Wuhan before greater misfortune befalls you."

In the end, he couldn’t hold it in and shouted.

"Stop spewing nonsense!"

He was going mad from the itching, and now this old man was talking gibberish. What was wrong with everyone today?

He should have spoken more with the old man, but Han Wolgaek couldn't bear it any longer.

He activated his light footwork and dashed toward a physician.

After Han Wolgaek left, the Poison King walked over and sat beside the old man.

The fortune-teller was none other than Sangseon, the one who served as Poison King’s assistant.

"That man won’t be able to do a thing today either."

If going to a physician were enough to solve it, he wouldn’t be known as the Poison King. Unless the Martial Alliance’s Divine Healer arrived, today would pass with him doing nothing but scratching.

"I originally meant to go easier on him."

It was the result of Han Wolgaek running his mouth.

Sangseon smiled as he looked at the Poison King. He always hated coming out into the world, yet whenever he did, he handled everything so effortlessly.

"Still, this much won’t make him leave."

In response to Sangseon’s remark, the Poison King spoke with meaning.

"If he sees a ghost, maybe then he’ll start believing your divinations."

999

“Master Gwak has returned.”

At the subordinate’s report, the White Dragon Branch Leader was visibly shocked.

Sure enough, Gwak Yeong was walking in behind the subordinate.

"What on earth is going on?"

"That’s what I want to ask. I stepped out briefly to take care of something, and when I returned, I heard rumors that I’d been kidnapped."

At her words, not only the White Dragon Branch Leader but all the martial artists present were startled.

"Then you’re saying you weren’t kidnapped?"

"As you can see."

The White Dragon Branch Leader looked her over. She hadn’t suffered a single injury, so her words seemed true.

"Who in the world started this? Who claimed you were kidnapped?"

"There was an anonymous report claiming someone witnessed her being taken. When they checked her residence, she wasn’t there."

"It was a false report."

The White Dragon Branch Leader stared at her briefly, then smiled widely.

"It’s a relief you’ve returned."

He then gave orders to his subordinates.

"Stop the search and return to the Alliance. Prepare a carriage for Master Gwak."

The subordinates moved quickly to carry out the order. Messengers were also sent to recall the search teams scattered across other areas.

The White Dragon Branch Leader said to Gwak Yeong,

"Now then, let’s return together."

"You’ve gone through all this trouble because of me."

"It’s enough that you’re safe."

The two of them boarded the carriage, accompanied and guarded by the subordinates.

No matter how closely she observed, Gwak Yeong couldn’t find anything suspicious about the White Dragon Branch Leader. He even asked several times if she was feeling unwell anywhere.

‘This man, an evildoer?’

Just this once, it seemed that man had made a mistake. Now that she met him again, she could tell—White Dragon Branch Leader was a good person.

As they continued on their way back, the White Dragon Branch Leader ordered the carriage to stop.

He spoke to his subordinates.

"You all go ahead and return first."

Just like that, he sent the carriage and the subordinates back on their own.

"Let’s have a brief conversation, just the two of us."

The place where the carriage had stopped was the very manor where Geom Muyang had first hidden himself.

The two entered the manor. Traces of recent construction still remained scattered throughout.

"What is this place?"

The White Dragon Branch Leader responded coldly.

"You already know, don’t you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This is where they first brought you after kidnapping you."

He spoke as if he were certain she had been abducted.

"Why are you lying?"

"I’m not lying."

The White Dragon Branch Leader's expression shifted. It was the kind of cold expression she hadn’t imagined this man capable of.

"Where are they now?"

Faced with his sharp interrogation, Gwak Yeong began to wonder.

"Why are you asking me this here, when we’re alone, instead of in front of everyone else?"

"It’s for your sake."

Gwak Yeong’s expression also settled into a calm firmness.

"You suspect that I’m with them."

"Am I wrong?"

Then Gwak Yeong spoke with a meaningful look.

"I’m on your side, Branch Leader."

At that moment, the White Dragon Branch Leader’s expression twitched slightly.

"I know too. That you're on my side."

The White Dragon Branch Leader silently gazed at her. From that gaze, Gwak Yeong could tell—this man had truly joined hands with them.

"If you suspected me, isn’t it dangerous to be alone with me like this?"

At that moment, a voice came from behind.

"She must have something she’s counting on."

Geom Muyang revealed himself from behind the building. Following him were Ho Myeong and the martial artists from the branch.

Yet the White Dragon Branch Leader showed no surprise or fear at their appearance. On the contrary, a flicker of delight crossed his face.

"You must have planned to use this young lady to lure me out. But I had already anticipated it."

Gwak Yeong turned toward Geom Muyang, her heart sinking in shock.

They had laid a trap—but had been caught in a trap themselves.

Geom Muyang’s face remained indifferent, not showing the slightest emotion.

Then the White Dragon Branch Leader shouted loudly.

"Now come forth and destroy these demonic bastards!"

The person he was counting on was Han Wolgaek. If it was him, not a single demonic cultivator in this place would make it out alive. The Han Wolgaek he knew was an absolute master who represented the righteous factions.

“Please come out!”

But Han Wolgaek did not appear.

The White Dragon Branch Leader’s expression stiffened. He had pushed forward with this plan, fully believing Han Wolgaek would come. He had been promised that he would come.

“Whoever it is, looks like they’re not coming.”

Just then—

The manor gate slowly began to open.

‘He’s here!’

The White Dragon Branch Leader, overjoyed, flinched in shock. The one who stepped in was not Han Wolgaek. It was someone completely unexpected.

‘Why is he here?’

He was so surprised, he couldn’t speak for a moment.

But then, one possibility occurred to him. That person couldn’t possibly be aligned with the demonic faction.

‘He must’ve sent this person in his place!’

The White Dragon Branch Leader was truly astounded. That someone could wield enough influence to move this man.

To everyone’s surprise, the one who appeared was none other than Jin Hagun, the Commander of the Demon-Slaying Brigade.

On the manor’s wall, martial artists began to line up in a circle. They were the warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade.

Ho Myeong and the martial artists under him immediately drew their swords and covered Geom Muyang with their backs.

A smile crept across the White Dragon Branch Leader’s lips.

“Commander Jin! Quickly, rid us of these vile remnants of the Demonic Cult!”

Jin Hagun’s gaze met Geom Muyang’s in the air.

Between the gathered martial artists, a tension thick enough to snap at any moment filled the space.

Geom Muyang shifted his gaze from Jin Hagun to the White Dragon Branch Leader.

“When will the person you called arrive?”

At the unexpected question, the White Dragon Branch Leader looked at Jin Hagun in disbelief and shouted,

“What nonsense is that? He’s right here, isn’t he?”

Then Geom Muyang spoke words that shocked everyone.

“That man is someone I called.”