Absolute Regression Chapter 583

Episode 583: One Man but One Hundred

“It looks like you’re confident you can last at least ten days.”

Even though I don’t know what he’s thinking, Kwon Ma doesn’t show his worry on the outside.
The same goes for Ilhwageomjeon.

“I don’t know who the enemy is, but it won’t be easy to stay with the cult leader for ten days.”

Kwon Ma and Ian laughed at her joke. Yes, the person who makes people laugh even in this situation is Geommu-geuk. This is the heart of himself and the Majons who believe in the Little Leader.

“Since Mugeuk has set a deadline, how about waiting?”

Ilhwageomjon readily agreed to Kwonma’s polite proposal.

“Yes, that’s right.”

In the circumstances, it seemed that the swordsmanship had gone underground with the enemy.
Of course, that did not mean that Kwon-ma would just sit back and wait. He said to Ian.

“Instead, send a message to Tongcheon-gak and tell them to report all movements related to Hwangryongmugwan. Also confirm that Mugeuk is not in Hwangryongmugwan or nearby.”
“Yes, I will do so.”

Not only Tongcheon-gak, but also Eunwol has already mobilized all of its information networks for this matter. If there is even the slightest sign of something strange, they will contact us immediately.

Kwon Ma did not let his guard down. He spoke to Ilhwageomjon again.

“I think we should also keep in mind the possibility that other enemies may come to our aid.”

If the opponent is strong enough to make the Sword Master nervous, there may be excellent subordinates or they may call in another enemy.

“They might go on a hunting expedition.”

It meant that they could drive the swordsmanship underground and come in droves.
Ilhwageomjon politely responded to Kwonma’s words.

“I will prepare as well.”

Ilhwageomjon knows. Kwonma is not just a scary person with a scary face. He has been through all kinds of hardships in the martial arts world with the leader since his youth. When the situation is urgent, you can trust his judgment.

After the conversation with Ilhwageomjeon ended, only then did Kwonma take care of his daughter.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”

Ilhwageomjon gave up his seat so that the woman could talk comfortably.

“Then I will go in first.”

Ian quickly spoke to Ilhwageomjon.

“Your Majesty, if there is anything that is inconvenient or that you would like me to do, please let me know.”
“Okay.”

Before turning around after hearing her consideration, Ilhwageomjon said a word.

“This great lord, have you achieved any achievements in martial arts?”

Indeed, Ilhwa Sword Master recognized Ian’s achievements. There was no way Ilhwa Sword Master could not recognize the changes in her who had achieved greatness in the Bicheon Sword Technique and had greatly increased her internal energy.

“You’re lucky.”
“Congratulations. That’s quite an accomplishment for your age. I wouldn’t have gotten this far at your age either.”
“That’s flattering.”

Ian bowed his head politely, accepting the offer. She didn’t want to miss this great opportunity to meet the Sword Master.

“I still have so much to learn. If you could give me some guidance whenever you have time, I would really appreciate it.”

It was a difficult request, but Ilhwageomjon readily accepted it.

“That’s exactly what I wish for.”

The Ilhwageomjeon was not just a saying, but a sincere one. She knew that the enlightenment that comes from teaching is as great as the enlightenment that comes from learning.
In that sense, there is no one better than Ian. She was still thirsty for training.

Ilhwageomjon walked toward the building.
As he entered the building and walked down the hallway, he saw Kwonma and Ian talking far outside the window.
Ilhwageomjon’s gaze turned to Kwonma, who was smiling.

‘Is it really that good?’

Have you ever seen Kwon-ma make such an expression while working together as Amazons? I haven’t seen him smile even once during our time together.

Suddenly, the Bloody Heavenly Swordsman came to her mind. She now loves Geommu-geuk as if he were her son, but there was a moment when he was destined to have children. And she, too.

I don’t regret it. At the time, I thought it was the best I could do.
But today, when I see that smile on Kwon-ma’s face, which is rarer than Yeong-cho’s, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I had lived a different life.

The agency arrived at the basement.
When the door opened, a young man was waiting in front.

“Are you here?”

The man who politely greeted the Sword King glanced at the Sword Dance.

“Accept new recruits.”

A hint of joy crossed the man’s face at the Sword King’s words, but that joy soon turned to regret.

“Is it one person this time?”
“Is it not enough?”
“No.”

They rested for a while, but they were all very tired. I thought they would bring at least five or six people down this time.
The Sword King took off his shoe and slapped the man’s butt.

“Show your face! There may be only one of you, but one against a hundred is worthless.”

When he came down here, he took off his shoes first.

“It’s a rough place, so my shoes get torn very quickly.”

After putting on his shoes, the Sword King took the first step and left.
The man’s eyes, looking at the Sword Dance Theater, were filled with suspicion.

Are you really one against a hundred?

This handsome guy in front of me seemed so far removed from the rough stuff here.

The man turned around and followed where the Sword King had walked.

“You have to follow exactly where I step. If you step wrong, you die!”

The path inside was extremely complicated. I had to pass through a dismantled facility, and the floor I had to walk on also changed from yellow to red and then blue in a frenzy.

“Don’t even think about coming out alone.”

The man was sure that no one could remember the route after following it once, but in fact, a precise map was drawn in Geommugeuk’s head. Geommugeuk had to do his best to remember the route, as he might have to get out of here if necessary.

This place was really dangerous. There were still organs that hadn’t been completely dismantled here and there, and there were blades sticking out everywhere.

“You have to jump over there in one go. Can you do it?”
“Just a moment. Let me catch my breath.”

The sword dance was a joke. It was because he wanted to talk to him for a while.

“My name is Geomyeon.”
“I am Hong-in.”

Hong In asked Geommugeuk with a slightly pitiful look in his eyes.

“Why did you come in here for money?”
“I came in because of you, Teacher.”
“Teacher? Are you talking about the big one?”

The Sword King was called Dae-Hyeong by them. Of course, he probably didn’t teach them before, so he probably wasn’t their teacher. Dae-Hyeong. From the title Dae-Hyeong, you could guess how the Sword King treated them.

“There is something about him that draws people in.”

Hong-in nodded as if he agreed with that point.

“But if I had told you I wouldn’t have given you money, wouldn’t you not have come?”

In the end, Geommugeuk meekly admitted it when he saw the look in his eyes telling him not to talk nonsense since he came for the money.

“That’s right. It’s because of the money.”
“Okay, run.”

Hong In jumped up with a look of ‘well then’. Geommugeuk followed suit.

“Don’t joke around while running!”

Hong-in opened the way again. Geommu-geuk could see that there were many more institutions installed than he had thought. There must have been many casualties in the process of breaking through here.

The two arrived in a wide space. Officials gathered around the sword king who arrived first.
Their gazes naturally turned to the sword dance. Their eyes were wary of who would join them.
The sword dance also looked at them carefully.

First of all, they were tired. You could feel the fatigue all over their bodies.
But there was passion and heat in their eyes.
They were all people who came voluntarily to make money. They were all dreamers.

But the Sword Dance Theater also read something else from them.
It was madness.
Young men were holding on in this stuffy place, in this dangerous place where their comrades were dying, thinking only of money. How could they not go mad?

They may think they are holding up well, but Geommugeuk could sense that their eyes were not normal. Since they were all the same people gathered together, they would not know what condition they were in.
Geommugeuk looked at Geomwang.

‘Can’t you see that weary madness?’

Is it because he pretends not to see it for his own purposes, or is it because he is with them that he cannot feel it either?

The sword dance greeted them loudly and brightly.

“I am a new recruit from Baekryongban. I ask for your help in the future!”

Everyone was in an uproar at the mention of the Baekryongban. It was the first time that someone from the Baekryongban had come here.
Even though the Sword King was present, one of the officials couldn’t hold back and asked.

“How did the White Dragon Class come here?”
“So how smart and strong am I in martial arts? Oh, why did someone with such skills join the White Dragon Class?”

Even under the focused gaze, the sword dance was still relaxed.

“There was a reason for that.”
“What reason?”
“When a man makes a choice that is incomprehensible, what reason could there be? It’s the woman’s problem.”

At that moment, several officials laughed. From laughter of absurdity to laughter of sympathy.
It was the first time I saw their relaxed expressions. When they laughed like this, they looked similar to the officials on the ground.
Anyway, the Sword King brought them here, and they thought that at least they weren’t deceiving themselves by shouting so loudly in the Sword King’s presence.

“Where do you sleep? Where is my place? Oh, I came down in a hurry so I didn’t bring anything.”

The Sword King went out himself and guided them there without asking his subordinates to do anything.

“Follow me.”

The Sword King first took them to the sleeping quarters.
He dug through the wall to make a large room, and shabby wooden beds were lined up in a row. It seemed like everyone was treated equally, and there were no better or worse places.

“The bed is too small and hard.”

The swordsman sat on the bed and wiggled his buttocks.

“If you’re too comfortable, you’ll just end up having a lot of random thoughts.”
“Isn’t that the one being ordered around thinking?”
“I sleep here too.”
“That’s not a reason to be uncomfortable.”

The Sword King stared at the sword dance and gave another reason.

“Thanks to you, they’ve become much stronger.”
“Ah! Then I should lie down.”

Geommugeuk lay down on the bed.
The Sword King stood next to him and looked down at Geommugeuk. Geommugeuk lay on the bed and looked up at the ceiling without saying a word.

“It already feels stuffy when you come down to the basement.”

The Sword King started walking again, and the Sword Dancer followed him.
He had to be careful as he walked. There were blades sticking out all over the living space. He felt that they were there to remind him not to let his guard down.

Dribble, dribble, dribble.

Let’s follow the sound of water. There was a place where groundwater flowed.

“If you want to wash, you can wash here.”

The Sword King took out the basic supplies he needed from a wooden box in the corner and packed them for him. He knew what was in every corner of this place.

The last place we were guided to was where the excavation had stopped.
An iron wall blocking the entrance to the cave.
The Sword King had said to dig into the ground, but to be exact, we had to dig through this iron wall. The wall was covered in unintelligible letters and patterns, and for some reason, it gave off a sense of danger.

“This is the final checkpoint.”
“How do I know it’s the last?”
“Because I’ve done enough. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

It was a joke with sincerity, so Geommugeuk laughed out loud.
Geommugeuk, who had been staring at the iron wall, placed his palm on it. The cold air seemed to be warning him.

Don’t come in any more.

This wall may not be all there is. A dangerous final gate awaits.

‘What’s at the end?’

The Sword King said that I could become stronger here. What could possibly be there?

“Who built this place?”
“I don’t know. I just know that it was built a long time ago. However, I do know that it contains peerless divine powers and great treasures.”

You don’t want that, do you? You’re the one who gives me a huge sum of money, three hundred thousand nyang, without hesitation.
Geommu-geuk turned his back on the iron wall.

“Now that we’ve come this far, tell me. Why do you need me? It’s not like I have any special talents to destroy this gate.”

The Sword King’s answer was unexpected.

“Actually, I’m tired too. This last gate will be really dangerous. There will be a lot of casualties.”

He didn’t say anything else as if that was all.
Geommugeuk asked in surprise.

“Are you telling me to save the officials?”

Surprisingly, the Sword King nodded.

“Because I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. That’s one of the biggest reasons I called you.”

As if he had said everything he wanted to say, the Sword King turned around and started walking. Then, Geommugeuk asked from behind him.

“Are you really going to spare these officials?”

The Sword King’s footsteps stopped.

“When the treasure chest containing the peerless divine power and all kinds of treasures is opened, the officials will also see it. Of course, since the master is here, they will not dare to be greedy. Those who return to the world will one day spread rumors. That the master took the peerless divine power and treasures from here. That they were there.”

Then the Sword King answered.

“How about that?”

Yes, the sword king I have seen so far may not care as much as I said. What if I spread the rumor? He has skills that no one can take away.
However, there was one reason why Geommu-geuk brought up this.

Before the return, there had never been a rumor of such a treasure being discovered. I had never heard of anyone spreading such a rumor who was an official of the military. All these people were keeping a secret?

‘Or did you kill them all?’

The Sword King turned towards the Sword Dance Theater.

“So? Does that mean we should all kill and destroy each other?”
“Wouldn’t that be neat?”

Although scary words were exchanged, the tense atmosphere between the two people disappeared.

“Then you take care of that job too.”

The Sword King laughed, and the Sword Dancers laughed along.

“I was joking. You know my rumors, right?”

The Sword King stared at the sword dance and said.

“Yes, if he’s the cult leader from the rumors, he’ll save those kids.”

Their gazes met in the air.

How much is true and how much is false?

Geommu-geuk felt that he could not find the answer unless he stood in front of him barefoot, and thus went all the way beyond this wall.

Geommugeuk turned around again and looked at the iron wall, and this time he quietly put his ear to the wall.

“What do you hear?”
“I hear it.”

The Sword King asked in surprise.

“What are you talking about?”
“To get the job done safely…….”

Geommugeuk closed his eyes tightly and concentrated.

“You need a good bed and soft bedding.”