Absolute Regression Chapter 335

Absolute Return Episode 335

The 335th tavern is set up in front of the Demonic Cult.

When they almost reached home, Yang In grabbed Jo Chun Bae’s sleeve.

“honey.”

“What is it, ma’am?”

“You just go back. I’ll handle this. Go back and do business.”

He was the eldest son-in-law of a poor family with only two daughters and a single mother, and he took on the role of a son. There were many problems in the family during that time. My husband stepped in and took care of them every time. It was also Jo Chun-bae who arranged for his younger sister to marry.

But this time, there was never an incident where a martial artist got involved. I kept feeling uneasy. I was afraid that something might go wrong with my husband.

“How are you going to handle it? Let’s stop talking nonsense and go.”

Jo Chun-bae started walking again.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I should come visit you more often.”

As I was doing business, it was not as easy as I wanted to visit my mother-in-law. Fortunately, my sister-in-law and her husband lived near my mother-in-law’s house, so I was able to show my filial piety by sending them living expenses.

When the two arrived home, mother-in-law Yoon ran out to greet Jo Chun-bae.

“Mr. Joe!”

The old, bare hands were pitiful.

“Was it hard coming here?”

She always took care of her son-in-law before her daughter. It was like that from the day she got married. It was also her own kind of love for her daughter.

“mom!”

Yang-in hugged Yoon-ssi. While I wasn’t looking, Mom had become very thin.

My sister-in-law, Yang-seon, was at home. Her eyes were so swollen that it was impossible to tell how much she had cried.

“Sister-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law.”

When she saw Jo Chun-bae and Yang In, she burst into tears.

Yang In went and hugged his younger brother.

I heard the general situation through a messenger. Yang Seon’s husband, Jonghak, worked as a cleaver at the Hwangryongpyoguk. He was caught stealing something from a pyohaeng.

“What about Mr. Jong?”

“I’m being held captive by the government right now. The government said so. They’re going to cut off both my hands in front of everyone… … .”

Yangseon couldn’t continue speaking and burst into tears.

Jo Chun-bae and Yang-in were shocked.

“You cut off my hand?”

Jo Chun-bae came knowing that this was no ordinary incident.

In the Pyo-guk, the punishment for stealing the goods by the insiders was excessively strict. There were many thieves outside, but if the insiders started to touch the goods, it would be unmanageable.

The reason I closed the tavern door and came running was because I knew that fact.

But cutting off both hands? That’s the worst punishment. What on earth were you trying to steal?

“Sister, brother-in-law. You know he’s not the kind of person to steal other people’s stuff, right? Who framed him?”

I know. The Jonghak they know would never be that kind of person. There must be something going on.

In desperation, Yang Seon pleaded with his brother-in-law.

“Brother-in-law, you run a bar in front of the Demonic Cult, right? Do you know anyone in the Demonic Cult? If someone in the Demonic Cult comes forward, we might be able to clear his name.”

Do you know anyone? There are many. The Sogyoju knows, the Hwangcheonju knows, the Demon Lord knows, the Gwiyeongdaeju knows, the Ma-jons know, and even the Heavenly Demon knows.

But there is no one who can help with this. They are just VIPs who I got to know because of the leader. They are people I couldn’t even make eye contact with.

The person I could most comfortably ask for help from was Geommu-geuk. He was such a special person. However, Geommu-geuk was gone.

However, he could not ask the low-level minions who were regulars at the Pungryu tavern to go to his hometown with him for a few days to solve the problem. Not only was he not close to anyone, but even if someone offered to help, it was not something that a low-level minion could solve.

While her husband was lost in thought, Yang-in scolded her younger brother.

“What are you talking about? Do you know anyone? Why are you making a big deal out of this?”

“No. I’m sorry, Sister. I just said it out of frustration. Don’t worry about it, Brother-in-law.”

“No, Sister-in-law. That can happen.”

What can’t you say now?

Jo Chun-bae stood up from his seat.

“I’ll go to the office and come back.”

Yoon shed tears as he held Jo Chun-bae’s hand.

“I’m causing you trouble for no reason.”

“Don’t say that. It’s Jong Seo’s business. If you wait, I’ll take care of it.”

Jo Chun-bae came out. His wife, Yang-in, followed him.

“Let’s go together, honey.”

“It’s okay, I’ll wait.”

“sorry.”

“Stop saying sorry.”

If I were to pick something I feel sorry about, I would say it’s more that I’ve suffered with you my whole life. Even when I didn’t have a single penny, you were a good wife who believed in me and suffered with me.

“Be careful. Never overdo it. Jong-seo-bang is important, but you are more important, okay?”

I feel sorry for my brother, but I really meant it. I couldn’t imagine life without my husband.

* * *

Jo Chun-bae bowed to the guard guarding the entrance to Hwangryongpyoguk and approached him.

“hello?”

“Who are you?”

“I am Jonghak’s older brother-in-law.”

Judging from the slightly hardened expression on the subject’s face, he knew it was Jonghak.

“That person is not available right now.”

“I know. It’s cold and you must be suffering. Here, please take this first.”

I gave him some food and drinks wrapped in paper. I bought them at a tavern on my way here.

“I can’t accept this.”

A delicious smell tickled my nose. The unmanned people had bought the most popular side dish at the tavern.

“Put it down and when you change, go in and eat it. I’ll leave it here in the back.”

Jo Chun-bae placed the drinks and food behind the pillar. He knew the minds of the people well, so he acted skillfully, giving them no opportunity to refuse.

“I would appreciate it if you could just let me know if they’re okay. They’re my family, so I need to know if they’re alive or dead.”

When Jo Chun-bae earnestly asked, Mu-in could not bring himself to refuse.

“Don’t worry, I’m not dead yet.”

“I heard you cut off his hand.”

Cutting off both hands was no different from killing. If you don’t stop the bleeding and treat it right there, you’ll die on the way to the doctor. Even if you’re lucky enough to survive, what will happen to your life after that?

“If you commit a sin, you should be punished.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Then when will the punishment be handed down?”

“After three o’clock. I’ll call the villagers and get them to action.”

Three o’clock? Jo Chun-bae’s eyes went dark. There was no time at all.

“Okay, you guys can step back now.”

“Your Majesty, at least let me see that person’s face.”

Jo Chun-bae showed off the voucher he had prepared on his sleeve. It was a voucher worth thirty nyang.

It was too much money to accept just by showing his face for a moment. Cho Chun-bae knew that if he was going to use a bribe, he had to use an amount that was difficult to refuse.

“There are people guarding there besides me.”

It meant that there was a lack of money.

“If you can grant me the sacrament, I will give ten nyang to the guards there and thirty nyang to the priest. Please, just let me see your face.”

The clerk opened the door and took a quick look inside.

“Follow me. Give me the money first.”

“I’ll go and give it to you.”

The clerk made a displeased expression, but he was already overcome by greed for money.

Jo Chun-bae followed the sign and went inside.

He exchanged some words with the guard guarding the warehouse, then gestured to Jo Chun-bae, who was behind a tree.

“Just a moment.”

After handing him the forty nyang he had in his arms, Jo Chun-bae went into the building.

Jonghak was lying there, tied up tightly. His face and body were a mess, as if he had been tortured.

Even when he was shaken awake, he did not easily come to his senses.

“Your Majesty.”

I had to shake him several times before he finally opened his eyes.

“Brother? Brother!”

“Are you okay?”

“older brother!”

Tears flowed from eyes filled with resentment.

“I didn’t steal it. You’re framing me!”

Jo Chun-bae covered his mouth as his voice started to raise.

“Shh! But why did they frame you?”

“I saw something I shouldn’t have seen.”

As he was about to say something, a messenger came in and grabbed Jo Chun-bae as if he was dragging him out.

“I have to go. My replacement is coming.”

I followed him back out to the entrance of the signboard.

“If you say anything about today, you’ll die.”

It was a threat to never reveal that a bribe had been given.

“Get out of here.”

Jo Chun-bae came out to the flag.

His heart was heavy. If he had stolen something, he could have prevented his hand from being cut off by bribing him like he was doing now. But what if he had been caught up in some kind of conspiracy?

Jo Chun-bae quickly rented a carriage and went to a place.

It was a branch of the Cheonmasingyo sect, located about an hour away by carriage from my wife’s family.

It was a small ward, but there was a man standing at the entrance with a much more menacing appearance than the man guarding the front of the building.

Mine looked Jo Chun-bae up and down with cold eyes. Before he could ask anything, Jo Chun-bae introduced himself politely.

“My name is Jo Chun-bae, and I run a bar in front of the Cheonmasin Church headquarters.”

“however?”

“I would like to meet the branch manager here.”

“What happened?”

“I have something to tell you in person… … .”

Shh.

Mine pulled out his sword without saying a word.

“Oh my!”

Cho Chun-bae screamed. He thought the bullet was going to stab him, but fortunately it was only aimed at his neck.

“Why would a bar owner want to meet the branch manager?”

“My younger brother-in-law has been wronged. I would like to ask for your help, branch manager.”

“This guy is crazy. Won’t he turn off?”

The words that the leader of the cult had sent me were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. No matter what, I couldn’t dare to sell the name of the leader of the cult. Even if Geommu-geuk forgave me, the other demons wouldn’t.

I thought about giving him the money I had prepared, but given the atmosphere, I was certain that he would just take my money and not be able to meet the branch manager.

Yes, this is the normal way. The relationship between the tavern owner and Mine is just like this. Ignoring is the norm, and it’s okay to scare him with a knife to his neck. It’s just that he was able to become a special tavern owner because he was the only one of his kind in the world.

Jo Chun-bae returned home again.

The lady who had been anxiously waiting in the yard came running. It was fortunate that her husband had returned safely, but there was also shocking news.

“I will cut off Mr. Cho’s hand in an hour.”

Yangin’s heart ached already thinking about how heartbroken his mother and younger sibling would be.

Jo Chun-bae silently hugged his wife, who was sobbing silently. She did not see the determination flashing through his eyes.

* * *

People gathered at Hwangryongpyo-guk.

In Pyoguk, they tried to cut off his hand in front of the townspeople. That was the established law of Pyoguk.

Jonghak had his blood and blood pressure under control, so the sight of him being dragged out obediently seemed like he was admitting his guilt.

The person who carried out this work was Kong Chan (孔燦).

“Will you readily admit your guilt?”

He was so overcome with emotion that he couldn’t answer or even shake his head.

But people didn’t know that fact.

Among the people making noise was the Cho Chun-bae family. They bought a doctor and brought him here. Even if his hand was cut off, they wanted to somehow treat him and save his life.

“Since you admitted your guilt, I will cut off both your hands and punish you as a last resort!”

At that shout, Yoon-ssi staggered as if he was going to fall, and Yang-seon wept.

“Honey! Honey!”

Jonghak looked at his wife with eyes filled with resentment and sorrow. He had never committed a crime in his entire life, but he never thought he would be falsely accused and have his hand cut off. Bad things always happen in an instant.

Just as Gong Chan was about to draw his sword and cut off his hand, Jo Chun-bae stepped forward.

“I am that person’s older brother-in-law.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on him.

“We haven’t heard anything about this incident. We think you should at least explain what happened.”

When Jo Chun-bae came out, not only the Yang people but also Yoon and Yang Seon were surprised. They were afraid that Jo Chun-bae would also get into trouble if things continued like this.

“The investigation has already been completed. The author attempted to steal the prize and is being punished for it.”

Gong Chan sent him a threatening look, saying, “Do you want to get in trouble too?” But Jo Chun Bae was determined to save his brother-in-law somehow.

“What on earth were you stealing when you got caught? It’s not like you can’t get the stolen goods back, but I think it’s too harsh to cut off both your hands for being caught stealing.”

The hand of the man holding Jo Chun-bae’s arm was trembling.

“Harsh treatment?”

Gongchan’s eyes became fierce.

Jo Chun-bae was not afraid. What kind of gaze had he seen at the Pungryu Tavern?

Jo Chun-bae had a feeling that the problem would not be solved by reasoning with the other person’s reaction. In the end, there was only one way he could do it.

“Even in the Demonic Cult, things aren’t done like this.”

When the Demonic Cult was mentioned, the surroundings became quiet.

“I know the masters of the Demonic Cult. Please be patient until they come and mediate.”

Gongchan’s expression was completely frozen. There was a sense of fear and intimidation that the Demonic Cult gave off. If he got caught up in it, one of the Pyo-guk would be wiped out.

“Who do you know in the Demonic Cult?”

“I know the Lord of the Yellow River.”

For a moment, the surroundings froze. The residents didn’t know, but the scribes knew what position the Hwangcheon-gakju held.

“Your Majesty knows too.”

When the Demon Lord was mentioned, the surroundings became quiet. I didn’t bring up the topic of the Demon Lord or the minor cult leader. If I overdid it, it wouldn’t be effective.

At that time, a messenger who knew Jonghak’s family history came and whispered to Gongchan.

“The author runs a tavern around the Demonic Cult.”

“A tavern?”

“It’s a shabby, small pub.”

A sneer crossed Gongchan’s face.

“You dare to threaten to sell the devil’s cult when you’re just selling alcohol?”

Gongchan felt angry and ashamed that he had been scared for a moment.

“If I send a message, they will come.”

Gong Chan was no longer listening to Jo Chun Bae after hearing that he was the owner of a tavern.

“Bring the author here!”

Then, his sister-in-law, Yang Seon, shouted.

“No. My brother-in-law said something unnecessary because he wanted to save my husband! Please forgive me!”

Yang Seon was gripped by fear that his brother-in-law would be dragged away and punished.

In the end, Jo Chun-bae was also dragged out.

Jonghak, whose blood pressure was under control, was unable to even nod, so he could only watch the situation with a miserable heart.

The person I really enjoyed marrying was Jo Chun-bae. I didn’t know how much strength I had because of him. I felt so sorry for making him go through all this trouble because of me.

“You threatened the country with the Demonic Cult, so I will cut out your tongue.”

Yang In and Yang Seon shouted.

“No!”

“Please forgive me!”

Mr. Yoon knelt down on the spot and begged.

“My son-in-law, please forgive me just this once! Punish this old man instead.”

Jo Chun-bae spoke to Gong-chan, trembling with fear.

“Please give me time to confirm my words. For the sake of the Hwangryongpyo Kingdom, please do not rush.”

Gongchan shouted.

“Shut up! This son of a bitch is going to threaten you until the end. I’ll cut your tongue out first.”

“If you touch me, the leader of the Demonic Cult will not leave you alone!”

I was hoping to scare him somehow, but it backfired.

“The leader of the Demonic Cult? This guy is absolutely crazy. Let’s say you know the leader. Do you really believe that the leader of the Demonic Cult would come all the way here to help you?”

He shouted that, but it was no use. The soldiers grabbed Jo Chun-bae’s arms. They really wanted to cut out his tongue.

At that moment, something pure white landed on Jo Chun-bae’s shoulder.

When I looked up, it had started to snow. People looked up and looked into the snow.

Why does it snow at this time of the year?

They say that the fate of a human being is to not know what will happen even an inch ahead. I didn’t know that I would end up having my tongue cut off in the land of the Yellow Dragon. However, I didn’t regret it. I couldn’t stand to see my kind brother-in-law get his hand cut off unjustly.

Still, I couldn’t help but be scared. If my tongue was cut off, would I be able to survive? I would have to stop the bleeding to survive.

I could see my wife’s face crying in the distance.

I’m sorry, I’m really sorry that this husband is weak.

Behind his wife, Yoon and Yang-seon were seen wailing.

I’m sorry, mother-in-law. I’m sorry, sister-in-law.

It was at that very moment that Gong Chan was about to put his hand into Jo Chun-bae’s mouth.

Shhhhh.

I thought I heard the sound of a strong wind.

Kwaang!

Something flew from the sky and fell into the smokescreen like a flying bomb.

People screamed, the guards and soldiers drew their swords, and chaos broke out.

Everyone’s eyes were turned there.

The one who flew in was a man. He was lying on his back in the middle of the training ground, panting for breath. His hair was disheveled, and his entire body was drenched in sweat. The only sound in the room was his heavy breathing.

Jo Chun-bae was shocked when he saw who he was. A smile gradually spread across his face, which had been dumbfounded with surprise, and he smiled brightly.

Then, my heart began to pound and tears filled my eyes. I clenched my teeth because I thought I would cry out loud, but the sound of sobs escaped me.

The man lying on the training ground looked up at the sky and spoke while everyone was watching.

“Master, it’s snowing for the first time.”