Absolute Regression Chapter 26

Episode 26: The more you take, the deeper your connection becomes.

Geum Ah-su took the lead and walked through the secret passage under the Hwanggeumjang.

The path was as complicated as a maze. I could feel deadly traps and machinery hidden everywhere on the walls, ceilings, and floors. I could feel the tension of Geum Sa-yeon, who was following along.

After going through a complicated and winding path that only those who know the way can take, we arrived at a secret warehouse where the treasures of the Golden Chamber were stored.

“You saved our lives, so we should give you all our wealth, but that’s not realistic.”

“I don’t expect it to go that far.”

“It would be good to set a certain amount and repay, but how about this? Take as much as you can from here at once. However, you cannot use a cart or get help from others.”

“Are you saying that you admit that I brought it out?”

“exactly.”

“Can I use my internal energy?”

“Of course.”

“Then you’ll probably be bringing quite a lot?”

“If it weren’t for your kindness, we would all be dead. We should at least compensate you this much.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll give you a psalm from now on. Is that okay?”

“That’s enough.”

I walked slowly into the treasure vault.

* * *

As Geommugeuk entered the treasure vault, Geum Sa-yeon asked Geum Ah-su.

“Are you okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If it’s Eun-gong’s martial arts, you can take more than you think. Don’t you feel sorry about it?”

Geum Sa-yeon laughed as if it was a joke, but she was also worried that her father might get sick later. Her father had devoted his life to accumulating wealth. But a large part of that life could have been lost in someone else’s hands.

But my father’s reaction was unexpected.

“Is there anything more precious inside than what we protected today?”

Geum Ah-su patted her daughter’s shoulder.

“It’s enough that you and Yang-i have survived. If I had lost you too… … .”

Geum Ah-su couldn’t bring herself to continue speaking. He had heard all his life that even if he was pricked with a needle, not a single drop of blood would come out, but at least when it came to his children, he was a man who would shed blood and tears. It’s just that he didn’t have the opportunity to express it.

Rather, on this occasion, Geum Ah-su came to a desperate realization.

He was so sorry that he neglected his blood relatives in order to accumulate wealth, even though they were his blood relatives for whom he would not mind giving up all his wealth.

And another reason why it’s worth giving all your wealth.

There are many types of death. If you die while working towards a certain goal, you have no regrets, but in this case, it was a betrayal by a vassal you trusted. You probably won’t be able to close your eyes even after death.

“That bastard is no ordinary person.”

“Yes. Even though he was young, his skills were extraordinary.”

“What I saw wasn’t just skill.”

“Then what else did you see?”

“I’ve been thinking about how to express that for a while now, but I can’t think of anything. That small group has an aura that I can’t express in words.”

He had met countless people throughout his life. It was the first time he had met someone so relaxed and unique at such a young age.

“You can always earn money again, but a relationship with someone like that will only come once in a lifetime.”

Moreover, the other party was young. Geum Ah-su hoped that her relationship with the young man would continue in the next era of the Golden Market led by her daughter and grandson.

“So, it’s okay if you take them all. The more you take, the deeper our connection will become.”

* * *

I can say this with certainty.

I will never again enter a treasure trove like this in my life.

On one side, there was a mountain of gold, and it was dazzling to look at. Buddha statues, military statues, tableware, ornaments, tigers, toads, turtles, pigs, and all kinds of animals. Everything made of gold was piled up. At first, they must have been displayed well, but later, there were too many of them, so they were just piled up like a mountain.

The display case next to it displayed precious jewels. From rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry to women’s ornaments made of jade.

On the opposite side of the display case were porcelains on display, and behind them hung paintings by famous painters. It was truly full of all sorts of rare items.

Next to it, there were things on display that excited me again.

It was a night light that could light up dark places, and a poison-prevention pearl that prevented poisoning when held in the mouth. The poison-prevention pearl in particular was the best quality and was very small in size.

There are five of them. They are more valuable than any other jewels here, as they are not easily obtainable even with money.

I happily took the night liquor and the poison liquor. I gathered them all and put them in my bosom.

A tremendous amount of value has been put into it, but it is only the beginning.

Next, I put an expensive ring on my finger, and wore a bracelet and necklace over it. I wore them so much that they were heavy.

I was looking for something to put my gold in. I wish I had a large leather pouch, but unfortunately I didn’t have anything that could hold it.

Should I take off my clothes and put them in?

While I was thinking about this, I found a piece of cloth lying in a corner. Upon closer inspection, I found that it was silk fabric from Sae-oe.

He tore it as wide as he could with his sword, made a large bundle, and filled it with gold ornaments.

Since I could move them using my inner strength, I put as many as I could in, rearranging them in various ways. I left the paintings and pottery behind. This was because they were at risk of being crumpled or broken. I also didn’t know their exact value.

I didn’t think about the Golden Jangju’s circumstances. At least, he wasn’t the one I had to worry about when it came to money.

In that way, he packed his pockets and bags tightly and took his treasures.

Geum Ah-su and Geum Sa-yeon’s mouths dropped open as they watched me come out of the secret safe.

I was carrying a bundle that was much bigger than my body. It was so big that I couldn’t even imagine how much was inside.

The warehouse door was so big that I could just get out, otherwise I would have had to break down the wall to get out.

“I will only take this much.”

thud.

As I put down the bundle, the floor vibrated with a thud.

Geum Ah-su laughed out loud when she saw that I had rings on every finger and that there were necklaces and bracelets dangling from my neck and arms.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

“Shouldn’t you be crying?”

“It is true that I am sad that my wealth is being squandered, but at least I am glad that Eun-gong is not a hypocrite. The hypocrites I know would have taken only a few things to save up useless and petty appearances. But how bitter must it be inside? I absolutely hate such hypocrites. Greed is the most precious and important emotion that governs humans.”

He was a believer in the praise of greed. It was because of that greed that he was able to rise to the position of the first wealthy man in Fujian.

“It was a really wise decision to tear up the Cheonjamsa and make a bundle.”

“thank you.”

“It’s a shame to have to leave. Let’s have a drink before you go.”

“I’m not the type of person to drink with my treasure right next to me. See you next time.”

“If I need help, can I come to Eun-gong again?”

“Of course. Please make a lot of money until then.”

At those words, Geum Ah-su laughed heartily. She could feel once again that the more honest she was about her wealth, the more he liked her.

“Where should I go to meet Eun-gong?”

“If you leave a message in the name of the Lord Jang at the West Lake Inns throughout the Central Plains, I will come and visit you.”

Seohogaekjan was a secret communication office operated by the school. It received necessary communications and delivered messages to important figures in the school.

“Your Majesty, you are truly an extraordinary person.”

Geum Ah-su would know. Only extraordinary people run a communications office in this way.

“Take care of yourself until we meet again.”

“I wish you good luck.”

After forming such a deep connection with the Golden Jangju, I left that place. My connection with the Golden Jangju was by no means a loss for me, so I was able to leave that place in a good mood.

* * *

I found a carriage in the village, loaded it with treasures, and headed to the bridge.

On the way back, they divided up the gold and treasures and sold them. Since the amount could not be handled in one place, they stopped at several places each time they visited a city to sell the jewels.

Having wandered the Central Plains my whole life, I knew where everything was and where to sell it. I sold off all the gold and jewels except for the night liquor and poison liquor.

So I divided the money I had saved up and entrusted it to the most trustworthy Zhongyuan Money Store, Continent Money Store, and Fengyun Money Store. The money I had thus accumulated was a whopping 3.8 million nyang. It was much more than I had imagined.

‘Thank you, Golden Jangju. You may not know it, but this money will become the cornerstone of an organization that will become a legend in the martial arts world in the future.’

He left 3.5 million nyang on the battlefield and returned with only 300,000 nyang in vouchers.

As soon as I returned to the church, I went to Cheonmajeon and met my father. As always, my father was guarding Cheonmajeon like a mountain.

As I walked along the bloody road, the red carpet, a question suddenly occurred to me.

Father would listen to Sima Ming’s reports here several times a day and make important decisions. Depending on those decisions, some people would live and others would die.

I wonder if my father is satisfied with this life?

Could it be that, like me and Ian, my father was pushed into the position of Cheonma? What he truly wanted was hidden deep in his heart.

“I heard you were expelled.”

“I went out to earn money.”

“Why money?”

“I can’t live off my father’s money forever, right? I think I’ll need a lot of it in the future.”

“What are you going to use it for?”

“I want to have a private organization.”

“Private organization?”

My father’s expression became slightly fierce.

“Don’t the Amazons each have their own subordinates? I need an organization to deal with them.”

“It won’t work. If you take it, your brother will want it too. The blood relatives and disciples of the demon lords will want it too. It won’t work!”

I didn’t think I’d get permission right away. It wasn’t an urgent matter.

If one or two good subordinates gather together, one day the water will overflow, and then there will be no way to stop the dam from breaking.

I didn’t push him, and my father never mentioned him again.

“Did you make a lot of money?”

“Yes, I earned a lot.”

I took a thick envelope out of my bosom and held it out to him.

“This belongs to my father.”

When my father held out his hand, the envelope in my hand flew into the air and went to him. It was an airborne object that contained the secret of ascending, extremely smooth and fast.

My father checked the envelope. It contained a voucher for one hundred thousand nyang.

“What kind of money is this?”

“This is Dad’s allowance.”

“what?”

My father was surprised. The reason he was so surprised was not because it was such a large amount of money to receive as allowance, but because of the word allowance.

“I have a lot of money.”

“I know. You are the richest person in the world. The money I just gave you is my first allowance, as a thank you for giving birth to me and raising me.”

My father, who had been looking down at the receipt for a moment, suddenly asked.

“Are you flattering me?”

“I will flatter you so much from now on that it will be embarrassing, but not as much as this allowance. I wanted to give it to you once. Now, take a rest, Father.”

I greeted him politely and walked out along the bloody path.

My father’s gaze burned hotly on the back of my head until he left the place. He must be very embarrassed right now.

Because he would be the first celestial horse in history to receive pocket money from his son.