Absolute Regression Chapter 571

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“How are you going to counterattack?”

In response to the question of the sword dance, Ian mentioned one person’s name.

“Through Yeonbaekjin.”

Ian knew exactly what was at the center of this.

“The fact that he approached Chief Seo and showed up here today. That person clearly knows something.”

Geommugeuk and Seojin nodded.

“First, we need to find out whether that person is an enemy or not.”

Ian’s gaze turned to Seojin.

“And Yeon Baek-jin will definitely approach Chief Seo again.”

“Then I will find out what your intentions are.”

“No! There’s no need to do that. That guy, he’s a bit uneasy. The way he looks at Chief Seo is also not ordinary.”

I could tell it was a sword dance.

Ian felt it too. A certain ominousness in his eyes. A premonition of doom for these two people.

It may be a simple crush now, but that feeling will grow beyond what you can handle and eventually lead to the destruction of both of you.

Ian, we have to change that destiny.

Ian said to the swordmaster.

“Sovereign Lord, please find out what Yeon Baek-jin reveals to Pyo-san.”

“Okay.”

Who on earth could ask such a favor? And who could possibly answer so readily?

She realized once again that she was fighting this battle with the best sword and shield in the world of martial arts. So it was a battle she absolutely could not lose.

“In the meantime, I will go to Tongcheon-gak and Eunwol branches with Chief Seo and gather the necessary information. The counterattack will begin based on that information.”

The reason I go to Tongcheon-gak and Eunwol branch with Seojin is to tell her how to contact them and how to receive information.

“Then see you later.”

Geommugeuk was about to go first when Ian spoke from behind.

“Thank you, Master.”

“what?”

“Everything.”

Ian knows better than anyone else how hard it is to watch over him like this. It would be much easier to step forward himself. However, the Sword Dance Theater was giving him a chance. A chance to gain experience and grow.

The sword dance drama was grateful to Ian who always said thank you like this. She would never know. How much strength those words from someone she likes can give her. The fact that they are the ultimate strength that allows her to endure until the end.

The power of those few words: thank you.

We make mistakes even though we know it. We say things to others several times a day, but we don’t say them to the person we really need to say them to for years. Just because we’re close to each other.

“If you are grateful, pay me back with money!”

The sword dance flew away.

Ian spoke to himself as he watched the figure disappear in an instant.

“Then even if I go bankrupt dozens of times, I won’t be able to pay it all back.”

* * *

When Pyo-san came to his senses, he was sitting on a chair, subdued by Ma-hyeol.

While following Yeon Baek-jin, I suddenly lost consciousness and when I woke up, I was here.

‘Here?’

The burning heat felt all over my body, the hanging weapons everywhere, the soot on the walls, the flames of the furnace burning red like lava.

Pyo-san could tell. This was the iron room directly operated by Hwangryongmugwan.

Because there were so many officials in the military, dozens of weapons were damaged or destroyed every day. So, the Hwangryong Military Base operated its own ironworks to supply weapons, and sold the remaining quantity to outside parties.

‘Why did you bring me here?’

There was no one around working in the iron room, and one person was standing in front of him with his back turned.

You could tell who he was right away by his snow-white hair.

Yeon Baek-jin was looking at the piled up weapons in the corner, and without looking back, he noticed that Pyo-san had woken up.

“All the things piled up here are defective. They look fine on the outside, but they’re useless. Later, they’ll be melted down in that fire pit and reborn as new weapons.”

Pyo-san said carefully.

“Even if he is the master’s younger brother, shouldn’t he not do this to his teacher?”

Yeon Baek-jin didn’t look back, but Pyo-san felt that he was smiling coldly.

“He who tries to kill an official is not a criminal.”

“Killing an official? What do you mean?”

The sign was clearly visible, but if it had worked, he would not have been caught in the first place.

Yeon Baek-jin turned around and approached Pyo-san. He met Pyo-san’s eyes as he sat down. He looked into Pyo-san’s eyes with an extremely cold gaze. Everything around him was hot, but only Yeon Baek-jin felt cold.

Pyo-san suddenly remembered what Ki-seok had said.

―Yeon Baek-jin is the most calculating and ruthless person of all.

Pyo-san intuitively felt that his life was in danger.

“I want only one answer.”

It wasn’t about Seojin, it wasn’t about the dead Im Hyeon, it wasn’t about the dead Baek Sa Dan’s Bang So.

What Yeon Baek-jin really wanted was one place.

“Where is that place?”

“!”

Foshan’s heart sank.

‘I knew it. Yeon Baek-jin already knew.’

Pyo-san tried to look into Yeon Baek-jin’s eyes calmly and answered.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The discomfort that was clearly blooming on Yeon Baek-jin’s face. He did not hide his feelings.

“I’m not one to ask twice. But this time, I’ll ask once more. Where is that place?”

Pyo-san could feel that if he didn’t answer, he would really die.

But I know that even if I answer, they won’t spare me. Also, my superiors won’t spare me for leaking secrets here.

I really didn’t know Yeon Baek-jin would move so boldly.

When there was no answer, Yeon Baek-jin sat up without any hesitation and turned around.

“There is only one fate for the unnecessary here.”

Yeon Baek-jin’s men came and helped him up.

They dragged him into a blazing furnace as if they were going to burn him alive.

“Wait a minute! Yeon Daehyeop! The entire Baekryongban saw me being dragged away by you. If you kill me, you won’t be safe either.”

Yeon Baek-jin just stood there with his back turned without saying a word.

‘There’s no way you can kill me.’

But his men pushed his face into the fire pit.

Pyo-san felt extreme fear at the scorching heat.

Even if you don’t kill him, his face will be completely ruined.

“Please! Don’t do this! I don’t know anything.”

As if they were not simply trying to scare him, the unmanned men continued to push forward. He held out desperately, but how could he, with his internal energy suppressed, overcome the unmanned men’s power?

“Eww!”

It was so hot. They say the pain of dying by fire is the most painful. I didn’t know that my life would end like this, burning alive.

It was just then.

“Are you really planning to burn that guy to death?”

A voice that resonates gently.

At those words, the drones that had been pushing the sign stopped moving.

“Eww!”

The sign fell backwards, away from the fire.

One side of his face was red as if it was half-baked. If he had been even a little bit late, his face would have been completely ruined. Pyo-san gasped for breath.

The person who appeared was Yeon Baek-in (燕白寅), the older brother of Yeon Baek-jin and the head of the Hwangryong Martial Arts Department.

It was no ordinary prayer. Those who had not seen him would have thought that no matter how large the scale, he would be nothing more than a military leader, but when he showed up in person, he had the air of an absolute master.

He was Yeon Baek-jin’s older brother by one year, and the two looked so similar that they could be considered brothers. However, the aura they gave off was quite different.

Unlike Yeonbaekjin, who had a free-spirited feel, Yeonbaekin had a well-groomed and restrained feel. Also, his hair was jet black.

Behind him, the direct warriors guarding the palace were lined up, and the figure of Giseok, the leader of Pyo-san among the Seven Sabu, was also visible.

Yeon Baek-jin wasn’t particularly surprised by his brother’s appearance. He was so calm that it almost seemed like he had expected Yeon Baek-in to come.

At their appearance, Yeon Baek-jin’s subordinates all quietly retreated through the back door.

“What could a noble person be doing in such a shabby place?”

“What are you trying to do now?”

The two brothers’ eyes met in the air. It was the kind of look where they had so much to say to each other, but were both holding back.

“What are you doing? I was talking to the teacher.”

Yeon Baek-jin walked towards Pyo-san. He looked at the flames that were almost burning Pyo-san to death and said.

“That was a very heated conversation between the men, wasn’t it? Teacher Pyo.”

Pyo-san didn’t say anything, but his eyes were filled with resentment.

Ki-seok came forward and asked Pyo-san.

“Tell the governor what happened.”

After Pyo-san greeted Yeon-baek-in politely, he told him what had happened today.

“Today, during the Baekryongban’s military drill, there was an accident where an official died. The Yeon Daehyeop arrested me for this and forced me to confess, claiming that I was involved.”

Because there were so many eyes watching, I didn’t say anything about the place he asked about.

Yeonbaek-in asked his younger brother.

“Is it true?”

“Except for the fact that the official who died today was from the Baeksadan.”

Pyo-san said urgently.

“You can’t judge something by just one tattoo.”

“You forgot to mention that he already has a history of killing teachers.”

At those words, Pyo-san was left speechless.

Yeon Baek-in said calmly.

“I, as the person in charge, will personally investigate this matter.”

Then Yeon Baek-jin smiled and said.

“I guess so.”

Yeon Baek-in’s expression hardened as if his tone was like, “Aren’t you on the same side as me?”

“Take the criminal to the royal court.”

The men behind him took Pyo-san out.

Yeon Baek-in gave a stern warning.

“From now on, don’t interfere in anything that is not your business! If something like this happens again, I won’t forgive you either.”

After saying something coldly, Yeon Baek-in was about to turn around when Yeon Baek-jin spoke from behind.

“Are you interested in military affairs, hyung?”

Yeonbaek-in stopped in his tracks.

When he looked back, Yeon Baek-jin was looking at the flames of the brazier with her back turned.

Yeon Baek-in looked at his younger brother for a moment, then tried to say something, swallowed it, and continued walking.

For a moment, Yeon Baek-jin stared blankly at the fire.

Then, the moment he turned his head to leave, he stopped moving with a start.

Someone was standing in front of a pile of defective weapons in the corner.

Yeon Baek-jin was inwardly surprised. No matter how complicated his mind was and how he was staring blankly at the fire, he didn’t even know that someone had come in here? If he had tried to attack him, he could have been hit.

“Who are you?”

Then a man wearing the Baekryongban uniform turned towards him.

He was a swordsman. For some reason, he appeared to him directly.

“Ah, Yeon Daehyeop!”

Yeon Baek-jin’s eyes naturally became cold.

“What were you doing here?”

“Oh, I was looking to see if there were any reusable weapons among these. There might be some that were originally fine, but were unfortunately mixed in and ended up melting down, right?”

Their gazes met in the air.

Yeon Baek-jin was certain that Geommu-geuk was no ordinary person. It was because he moved around with a beautiful woman like Ian, and because he became close with Seo-jin as soon as he entered the palace. And it was because he showed up here.

‘He made a sound on purpose. Otherwise, he would have quietly disappeared. Where did he hear it from?’

Yeon Baek-jin asked Geommu-geuk.

“So? Did you find anything worth fixing?”

Geommugeuk looked at Yeonbaekjin intently and said.

“You can’t tell just by looking at it. It looks okay, but when you actually use it, you realize that it’s trash.”

Geommugeuk walked next to the fire where Yeonbaekjin was standing.

Yeon Baek-jin secretly raised his internal energy and prepared for the enemy’s surprise attack.

But Geommugeuk crouched down in front of the brazier. He looked at the fire for a moment and thought back to the past.

“I remember playing with fire with my older brother when I was little.”

Yeon Baek-jin looked down at him with cold eyes and listened to Geommu-geuk’s words.

‘It’s full of loopholes.’

Everything was a weak point. It felt like it could kill me with a single blow. The back of my head, my neck, my back. Everything felt like a weak point.

But I didn’t feel like subduing him in one blow. Strangely, I didn’t feel like fighting. I wasn’t the type of person to just sit back and watch this strange guy go through this situation.

“I remember being scared that my brother would push me into the fire. I still have that anxiety.”

Yeon Baek-jin’s expression hardened at his brother’s story. It was clear that he had brought up the story after seeing him meet his brother.

‘It’s been there since then.’

That means that neither Hyung nor the other soldiers noticed that the interest was hidden.

“I guess you’re not close with your brother.”

“We were trying to kill each other. Our family also had some inheritance to inherit.”

“How much does it cost?”

“It’s quite a lot.”

“Then my brother must be dead now.”

The smiling lips of the swordsman were illuminated by light.

“No, he’s alive. In fact, we’re quite close now.”

“Then you probably didn’t have much.”

Geommugeuk said with a meaningful smile.

“If you want, I can tell you a secret. How to avoid bloodshed between brothers in a power struggle! How about it? Buy me a drink and I’ll tell you.”

“No need.”

It was clear that he was something out of the ordinary, but there was so much nonsense that it was difficult to discern his true nature.

The crouching swordsman got up and stood in front of the original pile of scrap metal again.

“Shall we take a look? Is there anything that doesn’t need to be melted?”

He was really strange. Regardless of his skill level, I never thought someone would make such a suggestion.

“Why are you so obsessed with this?”

“There are too many things thrown away in this world.”

Geommugeuk looked back at him and added:

“Isn’t it unfair? When something is fine, it’s just thrown away like this.”

The flames of the brazier flickered hotly on Yeon Baek-jin’s face as he stared at the sword dance.

“Who are you?”