Absolute Regression Chapter 264

Episode 264: My reputation depends on you.

The Geommugeuk entered Honamjidan with great pomp, accompanied by escorts on both sides.

Yeo So-gwang also welcomed the new leader with all his subordinates.

The Honam branch’s minions lined up on both sides shouted loudly.

“Meet the Young Master!”

Yeo So-gwang walked out to greet the Geommu Theater. It was his first time seeing Geommu Theater today.

‘He’s really handsome.’

He’s not just handsome, he’s coolly handsome. And he has those confident eyes. It’s actually a good thing. The type of people who are easy to exploit are those with high self-esteem or, conversely, those with a strong inferiority complex.

Yeo So-kwang was especially strong against those with strong self-esteem. He was able to rise to the level of Zidane because he was able to adjust to their moods better than anyone else.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Yeo So-gwang bowed deeply. His waist was as flexible as the political skills he had cultivated throughout his life.

Geommugeuk stared intently at Yeo So-gwang.

“You look really good.”

“I hear that sometimes.”

“They say to be careful when you meet a face like this in the world of martial arts.”

Even though Geommugeuk had been provocative from the very first greeting, Yeo So-gwang smiled.

“That’s right. Everyone else needs to be careful. However, in this martial arts world, there are two people who are exempt. One of them is the Young Master. Now, let’s go in.”

Yeo So-gwang entered the main hall with Geommu-geuk.

There was a banquet prepared there.

As the sword dance began, the musicians began to play and the dancers began to dance. The servants began to heat up and carry the food.

“Okay, let’s go to the top seat.”

Usually, when receiving an honored guest, they rest on the first day and have a banquet the next evening, but this time, they didn’t do that. Since he was a junior sect leader, he would have come comfortably anyway, and he was still young.

It shows from the beginning. Life is fun when you are with Honam Jidanju. If you are tired and want to rest, you can open it again tomorrow. Yeo So-kwang was more confident than anyone else in Gangho when it came to treating people.

Geommugeuk sat at the top seat and Yeo So-gwang sat next to him.

Then, Jeokyeon pulled out the silver needle and checked each dish to see if it was poisoned. The other guards stood a little further back, front, left, and right, centered around Geommugeuk, and guarded him.

Looking at them, Geommu-geuk smiled. When he was with himself, he was just like a kid, but seeing him with other people like this, he was definitely different. His spirit was not ordinary.

“The escorts are young.”

“They were chosen to guard the leader despite being young, so how skilled must they be? They are people who would not be out of place in any elite organization of our sect.”

The swordsman spoke loudly so that all the guards could hear.

Yeo So-gwang was mistaken by that appearance.

‘As expected! Young people have that kind of bravado.’

But he didn’t know that the sword dance was really just a compliment to boost his subordinates’ self-esteem.

“The momentum of each and every person is truly extraordinary.”

Yeo So-gwang also followed the rhythm of the praise for Geommu-geuk.

This time, the sword dance was the greeting.

“Isn’t Honamjidan a key location for our school to keep the Murim Alliance in check? That’s why I visited here before other jidans.”

“I feel a heavy burden because you have entrusted such a heavy task to someone who is lacking.”

“It’s fine as long as it’s not too heavy to carry other things.”

Despite the meaningful words, Yeo So-gwang was not shaken at all.

“I am only loyal to the church.”

“As expected! The head of the company can trust the female leader. Let’s have a drink.”

After the two toasted, they drank alcohol.

Yeo So-gwang said quietly, putting down his glass.

“The fame of the young cult leader has been heard loudly all the way to Honam.”

“What was the rumor?”

“There was a rumor that he was the best successor of all time.”

The sword dance made a pleasant expression.

“Besides, you are so handsome. I dare say that you are the most handsome of all the later ranks of the martial arts world.”

“Our lady is putting gold gilding on her ugly face.”

“I am telling you this with all sincerity. Ask your subordinates. I am a man who cannot lie.”

Yeo So-gwang called out to his right-hand man, Hwang Pyo, and asked.

“What do you think?”

“Not only is he the most handsome among the martial artists, but he is also the most handsome among the martial artists.”

Yeo So-gwang laughed out loud at his words.

“I made a mistake. I was not a former martial artist, but a former martial artist.”

This had happened many times before. When Yeo So-gwang praised him, Hwang Pyo would come out and praise him even more. He would laugh and repeat the praise again.

This was exactly the way they treated people. Since ancient times, there has been no compliment more effective than complimenting someone’s appearance. Especially when the person is this young.

The sword dance laughed happily.

Yeo So-gwang thought he was smiling happily because he was told he was handsome, but in fact, Geommu-geuk was smiling for a different reason.

“That’s how it felt. I bet everyone felt good.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No. Let’s have another drink.”

“Good. For the birth of a new martial arts hero!”

Yeo So-gwang listened to Geommu-geuk’s words well. Whenever he said something, he would agree with it and beat the drum, and he would praise Geommu-geuk, saying that he had never thought of such a thing. He was truly a man who had a knack for lying down flat.

Yeo So-gwang was good at flattery. However, he did not know that the person who was laughing at his flattery was the true embodiment of flattery.

“Our female leader, have a drink!”

Yeo So-kwang smiled inwardly as he heard the word ‘we’ being added before the word calling him.

Now it’s time to add some spice to the drinking party.

As the intoxication rose and the atmosphere became more relaxed, Yeo So-gwang beckoned to a woman.

She was one of the dancers who had been dancing ahead. She was noticeably beautiful among the dancers and slowly walked over to the place.

Yeo So-gwang introduced the woman.

“The young sect leader said he wanted to greet me when I came, so if you don’t mind, could you pour me a drink?”

A woman came and greeted Geommugeuk politely.

“It’s called Yakran (葯蘭).”

She was beautiful. She was so beautiful that it seemed that if you really tried to seduce her, there wouldn’t be any man who wouldn’t fall for her.

Yakran came over and picked up the bottle of alcohol.

“I would like to offer you a drink.”

At that moment, Geommu-geuk suddenly got up from his seat and hugged her. Everyone was surprised by the sudden action.

“Okay, drink later. Lady, please wait over there.”

The swordsman ran out of the main hall with her in his arms. The guards followed him in panic.

Yeo So-gwang was also embarrassed, but soon spoke loudly.

“As expected, heroes love beauties! The bedroom is in the building on the left outside!”

Yeo So-kwang couldn’t help but laugh at the thought that things would be resolved easily.

‘Alcohol and beauty, they always go well together.’

Of course, I didn’t know it would be this hot and easy to get through.

Meanwhile, Yakran was very surprised.

At first, he was surprised by the sudden action of the cult leader, and then he was surprised by the fact that he had been floating in the air while running to the bedroom. The cult leader pretended to hug him, but did not touch his body.

Indeed, upon entering the room, an unexpected situation unfolded.

When she rushed into the room, it seemed as if she would be thrown onto the bed, but Geommu-geuk gently sat her down on the chair. No, to be exact, an invisible energy sat her down.

Then she saw. The handsome appearance of the cult leader did not enter her eyes. His eyes. He was looking at her with such clear eyes. Could it be possible for Mine’s eyes to be this clear?

Geommugeuk spoke with a tone as soft as his eyes.

“Do you know who I am?”

“yes.”

Her words were soft, but her voice trembled as she was overwhelmed by an inexplicable atmosphere.

“How many times has this happened?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Wasn’t Yeo So-gwang forcing you to be treated like this before?”

Yakran was surprised. She was surprised that he had noticed this fact, and she was also surprised that the little sect leader was trying to track down Yeo So-gwang.

Fear crept in. If I got caught up in the power struggle, I would die.

“Even with my status, I can’t open my mouth.”

Who would dare to refuse to answer in front of someone?

“No. But if the head of the household finds out what I said… … she’ll kill my family back home.”

“Did he threaten to kill your entire family?”

“yes.”

“How did you feel at that time?”

“I was scared. And I was angry.”

Was it because the opponent was a stern leader of a demonic cult? Or was it because of those deep eyes that seemed to look into his own heart? The answer that he had to ponder over came without difficulty.

“Yeah, you should be angry. You should be angry at someone who threatens to kill your family.”

She was threatened by Yeo So-gwang since she was young. She went to drinking parties when he told her to, poured drinks when he told her to, and even forced to sleep with him.

But I couldn’t refuse.

Yeo So-kwang put her family’s lives at stake, not her own. Her sick father, her younger siblings, her hard-working mother.

He blackmailed and brainwashed the young girl. He told her that this was how the world was. If she stuck close to those in power, she would make more money. If she sent more money for medicine, she could save her father.

She hated it. She hated serving drinks to strangers. She thought about committing suicide several times, but she couldn’t die because of her family.

Now, I begged Yeo So-kwang to stop. But from the beginning, she was not someone that a pure young girl could handle.

After hearing her story, Geommugeuk came towards her. After staring at her for a moment, Geommugeuk spoke softly.

“I’m sorry. Am I too late?”

The moment she heard those words, something deep inside her heart surged. Tears flowed out. She thought there would be no more tears, but once they started, they kept flowing.

I tried to stop the tears, but I couldn’t. I wanted to shout at Geommugeuk. Why did you come now? Why did you come now?

If she had been a child, she would have screamed like that.

But now the little girl from back then is no more.

“……sorry.”

There is only her who is the victim and apologizes.

The next moment, her head rose on its own and a soft energy began to surround her.

Her heart was at ease with the softness she had never felt before.

Was that why? She mustered up the courage to ask one thing she had been curious about.

“Why did you think I was dragged out against my will?”

Apparently, Yeo So-gwang had introduced herself as a dancer who wanted to see the little cult leader.

“It’s because of the way you walked towards me and looked at me.”

“Is it because of my eyes?”

“I saw the anger in your eyes.”

She was surprised. She saw me looking at her gently. Did he read her mind?

“My right-hand man also looked at me with that kind of gaze at first. He was filled with anger and defeatism, thinking that the organization would never change.”

Yakran no longer had the face that had trembled in fear before.

“What will happen to me if you don’t tell me about the female protagonist?”

“I’ll just let you go.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We have to find another way. Since he’s a dirty guy anyway, we’ll probably be able to find evidence that will make him pay for his crimes.”

Yakran still hesitated, and Geommugeuk stood up without pushing her any further.

“You just have to forget about this conversation and act like nothing happened. I’ll make sure that bastard pays for his crimes.”

As the sword dance was about to leave, she said.

“Just a moment.”

When the sword dance turned around, she asked.

“What happened to the person who had the same eyes as me?”

“I ascended to the throne of the underworld. It is a place to punish those who have given up on being human.”

Yakran’s eyes trembled. After a while, surprising words came out of her mouth.

“Wait a minute, if you leave now, the sect leader will doubt your stamina.”

Geommugeuk opened his eyes wide, not knowing that he would make such a joke. Geommugeuk’s personality couldn’t just ignore such a joke.

“You are the first woman to have taken care of the most important reputation of the Cheonma Sect’s young leader.”

Even Yakran laughed at Geommugeuk’s joke.

“I had a dream to die on stage while dancing, but I guess I’ll end up dying doing something crazy like this.”

She walked over to the table and began writing down names with the paper and brush she had there. Starting with the most recent name, there was a name that even Geommu-geuk would recognize.

Blood test.

The mere fact that he had been entertained was proof that Yeo So-gwang was involved in this matter. Of course, he would make all sorts of excuses, but since the opponent was Geommu-geuk, it would not be easy for him to get away with it.

In addition to the blood test, the names of several influential people were listed one after another.

And she wrote in detail about what happened to her. Writing about her life means risking her life for this.

Yakran handed the paper to Geommugeuk and said.

“This is… … my life.”

“No. This is your new life.”

Because from now on, you can live a different life.

The sword dance brought in Samho.

“Take the young lady and go to Tongcheon-gak. Have the people there take the young lady back to her hometown. Also, find a way to cure her sick father.”

Yakran opened her eyes wide in surprise. It was so moving that she couldn’t believe it.

“He won’t follow me and kill my family, right?”

Half joking, half fearful, Geommugeuk coldly spoke to Samho.

“Now, let’s destroy this young lady’s family and come back!”

Then Samho spoke to Yakran in a blunt tone.

“I recently visited my mother for the first time in three years.”

Yakran looked at Samho in surprise.

“You’ve aged a lot since then. Money is important, but… I hope you come see me before it’s too late.”

Geommugeuk smiled faintly as he looked at Samho. It was a moment when he got a glimpse of what kind of person Samho was.

Geommugeuk smiled and said to Yakran, whose eyes were reddened at the thought of her parents.

“If you were worried about that, you shouldn’t have written this in the first place. And do you think we wouldn’t be able to find your hometown if you didn’t tell us?”

Yakran smiled awkwardly.

“Are you going to punish him today?”

“okay.”

“I want to see that too. See him die.”

Even if he dies, her scars will remain for the rest of her life. If they will remain anyway.

“Then there’s something I want to see too. When that guy dies, show him your dance.”

Yakran nodded slowly.

“Yes. I want to show it to the cult leader. I don’t know if I can dance well in front of a corpse though.”

Geommugeuk and Yakran walked out of the room.

The guards looked at the sword dance with awe. They were surprised when they first ran to pick her up, but they were amazed again when they heard the conversation in the room. The more they learned about the sword dance, the deeper their loyalty became.

Geommugeuk teased Yakran.

“The reputation of my virility depends on your expression.”

Yakran said with a smile.

“Don’t worry, I’m the one standing on stage.”

The two returned to the banquet hall.

Geommugeuk walked with his chest held high and confident, and Yakran followed him with a satisfied smile and a slight bow of her head.

Yeo So-gwang stood close to Geommu-geuk and asked quietly.

“Do you look happy?”

Geommugeuk chuckled, poking him in the ribs.

“Because today I’m going to see the best dance of my life.”