Absolute Regression Chapter 706

Episode 706: If I die to a handsome cult leader

“This unmanned.”

At Cheonhwaruju’s call, Ian, who was standing next to the door and watching the outside world, turned his head.

“Take some rest.”

After being given the task of protecting himself, Ian did not pay attention to anything else for even a moment. He blocked the windows, checked the ceiling and walls, and listened for any signs in the hallway outside the door. He repeated it.

Ian put his ear to the door again and said.

“There’s a saying that’s been passed down among the escort drones. Accidents always happen the moment you turn your head.”

Only after looking outside like that did he turn back to Cheonhwaruju.

“I’m fine, Lady Rouge.”
“Being an escort is not an easy job.”
“Thank you for your concern.”

Ian felt comfortable when he was with Cheonhwaruju.
The first time he met her was when he was having side effects on his body. Since then, Cheonhwaruju had treated him with such good feelings, so whenever he saw her, he felt like she was like an older sister and a friend.

That’s why I guarded her with more care. I couldn’t bear to lose her just because she turned her head away.

“Don’t worry, I’m a former bodyguard of the leader of the Cheonma Sect…….”

The next moment!
Ian quickly turned around and drew his sword.

Shhhhh!

Her sword flashed like lightning and cut through the air.

Swish, thump! Thud thud!

The door collapsed, cut into a crooked cross shape, and
there was no one behind the collapsed door.

“Come out.”

At Ian’s words, something burst out from the wall next to the door.

Clang.

It was a fan with a beautiful woman on it. It waved the fan as if it was waving a surrender flag.
The person who looked in was Hwa Do-myeong. He greeted Ian warmly as if he knew him well.

“Congratulations to Lee Unmann for advancing to the finals!”

The makeup was so ridiculously thick that I couldn’t tell what kind of face he had or what expression he was making.
But I could tell this much.

‘He’s not an ordinary expert.’

When the door rang, he was clearly standing behind it. At that split second, he dodged his own attack.

Just because you can’t gauge your opponent’s skill level, it means they are by no means inferior to you.

“Of course, the competition was turned upside down as you all turned everything upside down.”

Hwadomyeong examined the cross-section of the door that had fallen to the floor.

“At that age, to be this good.”

And then he came inside, fanning himself gently.

Ian slowly backed away, focusing all his attention on his sword and his opponent.

“With that appearance and this skill. It’s understandable that he would be arrogant. He’s really amazing!”

He folded the fan he had spread out and repeatedly struck his palms with the fan as if clapping his hands.

Ian took something out of his pocket and put it in his mouth. It was a poisoned drink. He had prepared for the case where people who used fans would open and close their mouths while smoking.

In cases like this, you shouldn’t take care of the person you need to protect first. If you get hit, Cheonhwaruju will definitely get hit, so you should take the poisoned drink yourself first.

And only then did he put his non-sword hand behind him and signal to Cheonhwaruju. He used a hand signal rather than words, as the opponent might attack him by surprise at this moment.

Then, Cheonhwaruju put the poisonous liquor that Ian had prepared for her in advance into her mouth.

At that sight, Hwadomyeong waved his fan from side to side and waved his hands.

“Don’t worry. I won’t use poison. I’m not a meticulous person. If I act rashly, I’ll end up poisoned by my own poison.”

Ian, who had been listening, asked briefly.

“Who are you?”

Since the other person was being polite, Ian also asked basic polite questions.

“Let’s just be errand boys today. A congratulatory guest is fine too.”
“We’ve already congratulated each other, so tell me what’s going on.”
“But before that, let’s put down the sword. My stomach churns just looking at the blade.”

But Ian did not put down his sword. It would have been nice to be as relaxed as his opponent, but he was not an opponent to let down his guard.

At that moment, Cheonhwaruju spoke calmly from behind.

“Did you call me here?”

The question was whether she had been called as a judge for the contest. She had a feeling that this strange man had come to see her.
And indeed, her guess was correct.

“You could say they are similar.”

Cheonhwaruju, who had been looking at him, walked to the table in the middle and sat down first.

“Please sit down.”

Cheonhwaruju looked at Ian and said.

“It’s okay, this unmanned.”

Normally, this unidentified man should have been prevented from approaching Cheonhwaruju, but I thought that Cheonhwaruju was acting boldly because he had something in mind.

Ian stepped back and made Hwadomyeong sit down.
Hwadomyeong, who was sitting down, stared at Cheonhwaruju and asked.

“You see what we don’t see?”

Cheonhwaruju didn’t answer and just looked at him.

“What do you see in me too?”

Cheonhwaruju, who had been staring at him intently, shook her head.

“I can’t see anything.”

Whether that was true or not was something only she could know.
This time, Cheonhwaruju asked.

“Why did you come to me?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”

His two eyes were cold and sunken under the heavy makeup. Just one change in his gaze made him, who had seemed so innocent just a moment ago, feel like a completely different person.

Choaaaak.

Hwadomyeong spread out his fan to completely cover his face. Behind him, a cold and sinister voice flowed out, not his original voice.
It was a voice so natural that it made you think that it might be his real voice, not an imitation.

“The leader of the Apostles must die. If we go against this fate, the martial arts world will be destroyed.”

At that moment, Cheonhwaruju opened her eyes wide in surprise. Ian, who was standing between them and listening, was also very surprised.

The moment that astonishing message ended,
the fan shook slightly.
Swish.
His new form suddenly disappeared like a ghost.

Ian raised his voice and looked around, but Hwadomyeong had completely disappeared.

“Are you okay?”

At Ian’s question, Cheonhwaruju nodded and stood up from her seat.

“I need to see the sect leader right now.”

* * *

“The Apostle Leader must die?”

After hearing the story, Geommu-geuk looked at the evil Soma standing next to him. The evil Soma also looked surprised and received his gaze.
An even more surprising story followed.

“They said that if we go against that fate, the martial arts world will be destroyed.”

The one who relayed the message was Ian. Cheonhwaruju was lost in thought for a moment.

“What kind of person was he?”

Ian described him in response to the question of the sword dance. It was easy to explain because his characteristics were so strong.

“He was a man, heavily made up and wearing fancy clothes with lots of jewelry. He was carrying a fan with a picture of a beauty on it, and he was very good at stealth and magic. I couldn’t tell how skilled he was.”

Geommugeuk looked at Geukaksoma. Geukaksoma shook his head at the look in his eyes that seemed to ask if he knew him.
Geommugeuk was also someone he didn’t know in his life before his return. At least, it meant that he wasn’t another Twelve Zodiac King.

If someone with these skills and characteristics is not known, it means that he was not active in the forefront of the martial arts world. Or he died before reaching the era of the Twelve Earthly Kings.

Anyway, one thing was certain.

“I think the reason they targeted the Apostolic Lord has to do with the message he delivered.”

The evil soma and Ian nodded as if they agreed.
At that moment, Cheonhwaruju, who had been silent, opened her mouth.

“What he said was a prophecy.”

A surprising fact was revealed to her.

“I knew the moment I heard it. That these words were a prophecy.”

Perhaps there was something that only she could feel.
If so, then a natural question arises.

“Is there anyone else in this day and age who can make prophecies other than Lord Lu?”

Cheonhwaruju nodded at Geommugeuk’s question.

“Your Majesty, you could make a prophecy. I left the palace a long time ago, so I don’t know who can make a prophecy now.”

The sword dance could be guessed from her words. She was the one who would become the next princess.
She rejected the fate that had been given to her and left the palace.

There was one more fact that could be naturally discovered.
The reason why Cheonhwaruju was invited as a judge for this competition this time was related to the prophecy the man had given.

Cheonhwaruju looked at Geommu-geuk with worried eyes.
Knowing that Geommu-geuk and the Apostle Leader were on good terms, her heart was heavy.
If the man’s words were truly a prophecy, as she felt, then that prophecy would also come true.

Even though he read her anxiety, Geommugeuk smiled comfortably.

“It’s okay. It’s not that I don’t believe in Lord Rouge’s prophecy, but I believe that it can definitely be changed. Otherwise, I’m destined to get stabbed in the heart by Lord Soma’s dagger.”

Geommu-geuk felt the continued worry in Cheonhwa-ruju’s forced smile.
Yes, the prophecy must have come true by now. That must be why she is so worried.

But there was something that Geommu-geuk believed in.
If prophecy shows the way, then it is humans who walk that way.

‘We must find another way!’

The sword dance left the room to meet someone.

“I must see the Apostle Leader.”

* * *

A garden not far from the Shinwha Hall.
The Gain Church assassins were standing guard on all sides.

Chai Lan was alone in the room.
She was sitting and staring silently at the box of beads on the table.
The words of the swordsman came to her mind.

– The leader himself has come, so he can’t just leave his subordinates behind without saving face, right?

His subordinates’ gazes at him clearly saved his dignity. You might wonder what that means, but it definitely did. He became the leader who led them out of the den of the evil Soma.

―If you fight by holding hostage something that the opponent can never give up, wouldn’t your life be too petty?

She fiddled with the box, recalling what the swordsman had said.
As her thoughts deepened, she heard someone speaking.

“Wasn’t it ruthless killing?”

Hwadomyeong was standing in front of the door, not knowing when he would come in.

“Since ancient times, killing people is ruthless. It is the nature of those who kill with many affections to die young.”

Hwadomyeong walked over and sat down in front of her.

“What did the young cult leader ask for in exchange for handing over his subordinates?”

Chai Lan said, still looking down at the box.

“If there is anyone rude enough to enter the room without the owner’s permission, please kill them.”

Hwadomyeong opened his fan and covered his face.

“Remember that I am not your enemy, I am a bystander.”

The moment he appeared in front of Cheonhwaruju, he changed from a spectator to an actor on stage. But he still pretended to be a spectator in front of her.

“What did you ask for when you released your men?”

When there was still no answer, Hwadomyeong guessed.

“You asked for the beads, right? Or did you ask me to give up killing the Apostle Lord? Or did you ask me to tell you who was above?”

Chai Lan answered, still looking at the box.

“I didn’t ask for anything.”

Hwadomyeong felt the truth of those words from her expression. Surprise was replaced by ridicule.

“I’m just playing with you. The sect leader is arrogant.”
“Aren’t you grateful that I’m playing with you?”
“What?”
“Otherwise, we’d all be dead. Right there.”

There was a moment of silence, and Hwadomyeong fanned her with flattery.

“You’re not the type of person who dies easily, are you?”
“The moment the little cult leader, who was just talking nonsense, put his hand on the handle of the sword, that thought occurred to me. Ah, I could die.”
“Were you scared?”

She still stared at the box, shaking her head from side to side.

“If I die because of a handsome cult leader, will I be pushed into a pit of fire as a handsome evil spirit in hell?”

Hwadomyeong smiled at her words and said.

“Then I want you to kill me.”

Then, Chae-ran raised her head and looked at Hwa-domyeong.

“Not now.”

Hwadomyeong turned to the side, avoiding her gaze, and fanned himself gently.
Then, without looking at her, he suddenly asked.

“When are you going to do it?”

The time that would change everyone’s fate flowed from Chayran’s mouth.

“tomorrow.”

Hwadomyeong stood up from his seat.

“I should go to bed early today if I want to enjoy the view tomorrow.”

Then Chai Ran asked.

“Where is that guy from Akgunhak now?”

Hwadomyeong’s eyes sank.

“Why do you ask?”
“I thought I’d like to confess before I die.”
“Who will die before? You? Or Akgunhak?”
“In your opinion, who will die sooner?”

Silence flowed between the two.
Finally, Hwadomyeong turned around and said.

“Confessions that don’t suit you. If you fall in love, you become unhappy.”

The moment when Chayran lightly bit her red lips,
both of their gazes turned to one wall at the same time.

An immense presence felt from far beyond the walls.

The next moment.

Choaaaak

As he unfolded the fan, Hwadomyeong disappeared in an instant.
Chai Ran retrieved the bead box placed on the table. Then, he turned his back to the wall and raised his self-defense weapon.

Kwaaaaang!

One wall was blown away with an ear-splitting bang. A huge torrent of energy swept through the area.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Everything was swept away by the river.

When the dust settled,
the room she was in was blown away and nothing was left.
Only Chayran was left standing there, with her back turned.

“They’re new clothes, but you threw them away again.”

She, who had been turning her back, slowly turned around.

Over there in the distance, a man dressed in black was walking towards me.
He was none other than the leader of the Apostolic Alliance, Baek Ja-gang.

It wasn’t a surprise attack. He had already announced his arrival, so this was his greeting.

Ilgyo flew in with his men and blocked their path.
Baekjagang warned them in a low voice.

“That child saved my life, so don’t make me kill him with my own hands.”

Chayran could sense that Baekjagang was determined to kill anyone who stood in his way.
Chayran ordered Ilgyo.

“Get out.”

Ilgyo hesitated for a moment, but soon received the order. The Apostolic Lord was not an opponent that he and his men could stop.

Baekjagang walked briskly up to her.

“I will ask you now.”

Baekjagang’s sharp gaze flew towards her as if piercing through her.

“I won’t ask you twice.”