Absolute Regression Chapter 483

483
This was the teaching that Hui passed on.

‘The moment you let your guard down, you die!’

The plain truth told by the best escort of our time.

The Sword Dance Theater knows how difficult it is to keep that one line. The truths that are difficult to keep are always simple.

“Oh no! This is a big problem.”

The sword dance was a joke that wasn’t a joke.

“There are so many moments in my life where I let my guard down. I play, I drink! I even dance!”

That’s what I said, but there are only two instances where I let my guard down.

“When I’m with my father, I can let my guard down. Whether I get killed or not, my father will stop me!”

Actually, I’m nervous even when I’m with my father. It’s not that I’m nervous about someone else’s ambush, but rather with my father.

The better we get, the more nervous we become. That means it’s time to make a mistake.

The only time I feel completely relaxed is when I’m in the space-time teleportation technique.

Ah, that place is so nice to just think about.

The comfort of lying on that hot sandy beach. The sound of seagulls, the sound of waves, a crab crawling across the sand.

Of course, there is now one more place. When you soak in a hot spring surrounded by snow on all sides, you forget all the worries of the world.

Thinking about that place with the thought of killing someone, I realized once again how precious that place is.

“Ah, I’m still letting my guard down as I listen to what the old man says.”

Whiga smiled. He had smiled faintly many times, but this was the first time he had smiled so cheerfully.

“Are you letting your guard down just now, sir?”

Then Hui nodded obediently.

“That’s right. If I had been ambushed at that time, I would have died.”

“We must have died together.”

Then Hui spoke carefully.

“I would have died first.”

Something a true escort drone would never want to see.

Even if he saw all the terrible and terrifying things in the world, even if he saw a sword being stabbed in his own heart, there was one thing he absolutely did not want to see.

The sight of the person you were supposed to protect dying.

Just as Ian threw himself for me, Hui was also prepared to die first.

“Perhaps that is the only blessing given to the escort.”

What more needs to be said? He has already proven himself with his death.

I love this man who protected my father all his life and was with him until his death.

That’s why I can promise you.

That will never happen in this lifetime.

This is why I went through all that trouble to return.

So I won’t let my guard down.

“mister.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will definitely keep in mind the words you told me today and always say them. I survived thanks to what Uncle Whee said!”

I will kill the King of Sal and return, and be sure to tell him this.

Hui smiled, as if my sincerity had been conveyed.

“You must be tired. Go in and rest.”

“Yes, sir, you too can rest.”

As I entered the building and walked down the hallway, I saw Hwi still standing in the yard outside the window.

He was looking up at the night sky with a pensive expression on his face.

Come to think of it, it was the first time I saw Hwi standing under the moonlight.

* * *

Geumcheonbang arrived at Geommugeuk’s residence.

He had been having trouble sleeping lately because of his son’s worries. What his son had asked the killers to do was a huge shock to him.

I don’t know about anything else, but I absolutely can’t forgive him for influencing my son to put in the work for Salsu.

Of course he didn’t know.

The outcome was already decided, apart from their son. From the beginning, they were nothing more than grasshoppers caught in the middle of a fight between wild beasts.

I even thought about going to him and questioning him.

But I had left my work with him to my son, so now I felt burdened to meet him.

So even if we meet, I plan to meet with Geommugeuk first and then decide.

‘We have to fix this somehow.’

Even if the request was made because of his influence, the son could not avoid responsibility for this request. This was the main point of today’s visit.

‘Do you really know who commissioned this?’

When the sword dance came to find him, he seemed to know something.

I came here to confirm that for sure. If I knew? I came here alone, without any subordinates, because I thought that might really be the case.

‘If that doesn’t work, we have to solve it with money.’

I haven’t even met Geomyeon’s father or uncle yet. I was curious about what kind of person he was.

When he knocked on the door, Hwi greeted him.

“How did you come here?”

“Are you by any chance Geomyeon’s father?”

“No. I am Yeon’s uncle.”

“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. I am the head of the Geumryongse clan.”

It was the servant my daughter brought. Strictly speaking, there was no need to be so polite.

The moment I saw Hui, I felt intimidated without even realizing it.

“I want to see Geomyeon’s father.”

“Please wait a moment. I will go inside and ask.”

“Okay then.”

Since Segaju came, shouldn’t we have brought them in unconditionally? If they’re sleeping, are you going to send them back?

While I was thinking about this and that, Hwi came out again.

“Please come in.”

Hwi guided him to Geomwoojin.

“The head of the Golden Dragon Family has arrived.”

“I will take care of you.”

Geumcheonbang entered the room. Huido followed him in. He was now not an escort, but an uncle.

Geum Woo-jin, who was standing by the window and looking outside, turned around and looked at Geumcheonbang.

The moment their eyes met, the hairs on Geumcheonbang’s entire body stood on end. He felt a presence that was incomparable to the intimidating feeling he had felt when he had met Hwi earlier.

“They say I am Geumcheonbang, the leader of Sega.”

Geumcheonbang greeted him with a more polite bow than usual.

Although he had a false identity as the head of the Seodopa clan, Geom Woo-jin introduced himself like this.

“He is the one who becomes the father of Yeon.”

Geumcheonbang has seen many people while leading the upper class, but he has never met anyone who gave him such an intense feeling.

“Unfortunately, something unexpected happened at my home recently. I apologize for that.”

First, I apologized and then asked how he was doing.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“It’s okay.”

“Does anyone have any idea who did this?”

“None.”

Since I couldn’t figure out anything from the short answer, I tried to figure out the other person’s true intention from their facial expression.

But, far from being sincere, when our eyes met, he unconsciously lowered his head and avoided eye contact.

‘That’s not an easy opponent.’

His son, Geomyeon, was no ordinary rich man.

Are you really saying that these people came as your daughter’s subordinates?

An awkward silence flowed. He was good at leading conversations because he had met many people, but strangely, his mouth wouldn’t open.

We haven’t found anything yet. If things continue like this, an evacuation order will be issued at any moment.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered what Geommugeuk had said to him.

“I advised my son to go see his father and ask for advice.”

“Me?”

It seemed like it was the first time he had heard of it.

“I told you to come see me and learn how to be a parent who wins over your children. I told you that you are the best in the field.”

Only then did a strange smile appear on Geum Woo-jin’s face.

“How can I win against my child?”

After a moment, Geum Woo-jin answered.

“I’m losing too.”

Hwi slightly lowered his head. He couldn’t dare show a smile at the leader’s words. The leader’s declaration of defeat?

It was a joking answer, but Hwi knew that it wasn’t just a joke. The leader was losing these days, and he had even lost at fishing.

Geum Woo-jin asked Hwi, who was smiling with his head down.

“What do you think?”

“How would I know, I don’t have children?”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

It sounded like the saying that having children makes it harder to find answers.

I was taken aback by the unexpected question, but how could I be careless in my answer when it was asked by the leader?

“I don’t know about winning and losing to children. I just heard this before.”

The question was asked by the leader, but the answer was given to Geumcheonbang. It was something he needed to hear.

“Children learn by action, not by words.”

Geumcheonbang’s heart became heavy. How could he not understand the meaning contained in those words?

If you can’t beat your child, then you can’t beat yourself.

In that respect, Geumcheonbang was very embarrassed.

Because what he showed his son was his belief that there was nothing that money couldn’t solve.

Geum Woo-jin said to Geum Cheon-bang.

“I see.”

“I have listened to your good words.”

It was not confirmed whether they were aware of their son’s request or not.

But that doesn’t mean that today’s visit was only filled with regrets about raising my child poorly.

As he was about to turn around and leave, Geum Woo-jin said something he had never expected.

“My son seems to have taken a good look at you guys.”

“!”

To Geumcheonbang, those words sounded like this.

I want to give my son a chance to forgive me.

The moment I heard those words, I felt like a small hole had opened in my heart that had been so stuffy and suffocating.

I hope that’s what you meant.

Geumcheonbang bowed his head slightly, greeted them again, and then left the place.

After seeing him off, Geum Woo-jin said to Hwi, who had returned.

“Do you have any children hidden somewhere?”

It was a compliment that he had answered the question well before.

Whiga just smiled without saying anything.

After looking out the window with Geumwoojin for a while, Hwi spoke cautiously.

“The assassin behind this seems to be no ordinary person.”

Geum Woo-jin nodded silently.

Hwi knew. Even though the leader seemed to be at peace with the world, he knew a lot. He was receiving reports from the military commander every time.

I was aware of what kind of killers were moving right now. I also knew that the best of the best were moving.

But even though he knew that, the leader just watched.

What does the leader think of the sub-religious leaders?

Perhaps he is seeing something deeper than what he himself can see?

Because I didn’t see it that far ahead, that’s why.

“I have a favor to ask, Reverend.”

Geum Woo-jin looked at Hwi for a moment with a surprised expression.

“Have you ever asked me for something?”

Hwi answered Geom Woo-jin’s question politely.

“This is my first time.”

“What do you want?”

“I dare not say this. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Geum Woo-jin waited quietly for Hwi to speak.

“I would like to be your escort for the time being.”

He was none other than Cheonma’s escort. He was someone who could not take his eyes off Cheonma for even a moment. He was someone who could not go there even if Cheonma was eating here or the leader of the sect was dying there.

I’ve really lived with that kind of mindset, and now I’m asking for this.

Geum Woo-jin spoke firmly to Hwi.

“I will refuse.”

Hui bowed his head politely.

“Yes, Master. I apologize for speaking unnecessarily. I will gladly accept the punishment for this great rudeness.”

At that moment, unexpected words came out.

“Whew, I command you.”

“Yes, Master.”

Whi was nervous as he clapped his hands together. It had been a long time since he had received a formal order.

“Escort the young leader until this matter is concluded.”

Surprised, Hui looked at Geum Woo-jin.

Geum Woo-jin looked into his eyes and said.

“This is the first favor I’ve ever asked you to do, and I can’t let you do it just to ask me to protect my son.”

“!”

“I’ll save it and ask you a favor.”

Hwi looked at Geum Woo-jin with hot eyes and answered more forcefully than ever.

“I follow the leader’s orders!”

* * *

“So you’re saying that from now on, you’ll be my escort?”

I was surprised by Hwi’s words.

“It is the leader’s order.”

“Father suddenly gave such an order? That can’t be happening. You know that, don’t you? He’s not the kind of person who throws his son off a cliff and sets up a net underneath.”

I stared at Hui quietly.

“You said you would protect me, didn’t you?”

“No. It was the leader’s order.”

Not being a man who was good at lying, I could tell by the voice and the eyes that it was Hwi’s own will.

I wondered what he was worrying about under the moonlight that day, and it turns out he was worried about me.

“If it weren’t for the order, I would never have left the leader’s side.”

Hui denied it until the end. He wanted to pretend that his father was thinking of him.

“You don’t have to be conscious of me. From now on, I am someone who is present with the cult leader but does not exist.”

Of course it would be. There would be only a few people who could find the hidden Whi.

I wonder if the King of Sal will notice?

Then suddenly I remembered what my father had said.

-If you’re going to put Whi in front, you take responsibility for it and protect him.

My father sent me Hwi not only to protect me, but also because he believed that I would protect Hwi.

Hwiya may only think of protecting me, but we must protect each other.

“Sir, I ask for your help in the future.”

“Please take good care of me too.”

Of course, a joke can’t be left out in this situation.

I raised both my hands in joy.

“Then from now on, I will let my guard down and relax!”

It was at that very moment that Whi smiled.

Our eyes turned to the door at the same time.

Hui disappeared without a sound, demonstrating what was then the greatest hiding technique of his time.

Immediately afterwards, a knock was heard on the front door.

When I opened the door, surprisingly, Myeongsin was standing there.

He spoke with transparent eyes that could not be read.

“I don’t have ten million nyang, but I have enough money to buy a drink. What do you think? Will you have a drink with me?”

What the old man said is right. The moment you let your guard down, life comes knocking.

Absolute Return Episode 484