Absolute Regression

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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< Chapter 158: Even a Passing Attendant >

Jin Haryeong was stepping onto the martial arts stage.

Today was the day of her first match in the main tournament. The cheers from the warriors were immense. They respected and admired the Murim Alliance Leader, so naturally, they also liked his granddaughter, Jin Haryeong. Besides, she was renowned as the “Beauty of Hubei,” so her popularity was a given.

“Make sure to win!”

“Jin Haryeong is the best!”

“So beautiful, Jin Haryeong!”

“Buy me noodles!” 1

“Jin Haryeong for the win!”

Jin Haryeong flinched on the martial arts stage.

Amid the cheering, she heard something that shouldn’t have been said.

She looked around. Since she had never acknowledged the warriors while on stage before, the cheers erupted from all directions. Among the countless people, she spotted the person she was looking for. Geom Mugeuk, seated among the warriors, shouted out.

“You just left again!”

Even amidst the roaring cheers, his words distinctly reached her ears. At that moment, she realized it. She had once again left without paying that day.

Even though he had asked her to settle the bill, she had left without doing so.

‘Ah! How could I be so absent-minded!’

That day, she had stormed out in anger after getting tangled up with that man.

Well, that aside. But really? Did he come all the way to the martial arts stage just to shout about buying noodles?

It was so ridiculous that she let out a dry laugh.

Her opponent on the martial arts stage noticed her reaction and scowled. He misunderstood, thinking she was mocking and underestimating him.

The misunderstanding only strengthened his resolve to win, but unfortunately, it did nothing to close the skill gap between them. Even throughout the fight, she kept thinking about the noodles.

As she descended the martial arts stage under the applause, she glanced over to where Geom Mugeuk had been seated earlier. But Geom Mugeuk was no longer there.

He left without watching the match till the end. That jerk! Did he really just come here to collect his noodle money?

At that moment, Chuho, her bodyguard, approached and reported.

“The Alliance Leader requests your presence in his quarters.”

“Grandfather?”

Half an hour later, Jin Haryeong was passing through numerous layers of tight security as she entered the residence of the Murim Alliance Leader.

Located deep within the Murim Alliance, the place was elegantly adorned with meticulously sculpted rocks and ancient trees over a thousand years old, making it resemble a paradise where immortals might reside. A man stood there, hands behind his back, lost in thought. He blended so perfectly with the beautiful backdrop that he seemed like a part of a painting.

“Grandfather, I’m here!”

“Have you arrived?”

The sturdy-built man turned to face her.

He looked twenty years younger than his actual age, with a perfectly muscular physique that even young men couldn’t match.

But more than his body, what dominated his impression were his eyes. They were so large and intense that even a tiger would flinch and wet itself when meeting his gaze, making him appear like a divine general descended from the heavens.

A person who would be more suited to the martial arts stage where she had just been, rather than this serene place where the immortals dwell.

This was Jin Paecheon, the Murim Alliance Leader.

He was the greatest master of the righteous path and the pillar of the orthodox, commanding their respect entirely. It was often said that the demonic cult did not dare act recklessly because Jin Paecheon stood strong, symbolizing the righteous Murim.

Even in Jin Haryeong’s eyes, her grandfather was an impressive figure.

He had a kind heart, strong willpower, and above all, a high sense of chivalry. He was someone who deserved respect from everyone.

However, that was Jin Haryeong’s assessment as a martial artist; as his granddaughter, her evaluation differed. To her, he was nothing more than an oppressive, stubborn, and frustrating grandfather.

Honestly, it made her even angrier. He was so perfect and considerate to others, yet to his own family, he seemed to fall short. He would dedicate himself fully to people he barely knew, but fail to do the same for those he should be caring for.

“I met the Master of the True Dragon Manor recently.”

Even on the day she won her match, her grandfather began with a different topic.

What’s the rush? Let’s talk about your granddaughter’s victory in the match. At the very least, let’s discuss today’s weather.

Of course, she couldn’t voice such complaints. Her grandfather wasn’t exactly scary, but he wasn’t entirely easygoing either. 2

“Is the Manor Lord doing well?”

“He pretends to be frail, but that old man is still stubborn and spry as ever.”

It was truly a conversation she wouldn’t hear from anyone but her grandfather.

However, there was a specific reason why her grandfather brought up the Master of the True Dragon Manor.

“He said his grandson returned from martial arts training. He subtly suggested pairing you up with him. What do you think?”

Ah! Here we go again.

“Why is my grandfather so desperate to marry off his lovely granddaughter? It’s not like you need a prestigious family connection, do you?”

She tried to charm him with her playful tone, but Jin Paecheon wasn’t having it.

“I’m asking for your thoughts.”

“No. Grandpa, I don’t want to.”

Her firm answer made Jin Paecheon’s expression slightly stiffen.

“Why not?”

“Would you want to marry someone you’ve never even seen?”

“He’s a trustworthy person.”

“Who? You haven’t even met him, Grandpa.”

“You can tell by looking at the Master of the True Dragon Manor.”

“And how exactly? Let’s think about me, your granddaughter, whom everyone in the world respects because of you. Am I really the same as the image people have of me? Refined, aloof, and polite? No, I’m not, right? I rebel like this. So how can you judge the grandson just by looking at the Master of the True Dragon Manor?”

Jin Paecheon’s expression hardened, but Jin Haryeong didn’t back down.

“As I’ve said before, when it comes to marriage, I’ll do it when the time is right, with someone I like.”

“That’s childish nonsense! Do you even know how dangerous this Murim world is? It’s full of all sorts of bizarre and strange people.”

At the mention of strange people, she suddenly thought of the impudent attendant. That was true, but still.

“The True Dragon Manor has produced outstanding martial artists for generations; it’s a family you can trust.”

“That trust only applies to you, Grandpa.”

“What do you mean?”

“No one would dare betray your trust, that’s why you’ve always been right about people. But it’s different for me. Just as people treat you differently than they treat me.”

Her words were audacious. The air around them grew cold with the anger in Jin Paecheon’s aura.

Still, Jin Haryeong did not yield. If she gave in to this fury, she might have to accept a marriage she truly did not want.

“If you keep pushing like this, I’ll marry just anyone.”

“Anyone? Who exactly are you thinking of marrying?”

“Just someone I meet on the street. Even if he’s a attendant, it doesn’t matter.”

She spoke without thinking and flinched inwardly. A attendant?

“Go ahead and try.”

“Grandfather!”

“You won’t do it. Don’t I know you? Your pride alone would never allow you to do that. Go ahead, bring back a attendant or a street vendor, anyone. I’ll throw you a grand wedding.”

Jin Haryeong couldn’t deny it. That was her true nature.

“I know better than anyone how great you are, Grandpa. I know you’re a noble person willing to give your life for Murim. I respect you the most. But I don’t want to turn my amazing grandfather into a not-so-great Murim Alliance Leader who forces his granddaughter into marriage.”

She understood why her grandfather was so keen on intervening in her marriage. It was because of her late father.

He believed her father had died because he married the wrong person. That he ruined his life by choosing the wrong wife.

His father had become entangled in the enmity surrounding his mother’s family, eventually falling to an enemy ambush. His mother died alongside him on that day.

Although all the revenge had been settled since then, a sense of grievance still lingered in his grandfather’s heart.

Grandfather, but how could that possibly be Mother’s fault? It was the life Father chose. Even up until the moment he died, Father loved Mother. 3

She knew her grandfather wanted to marry her off to a family he had chosen because of this reason, which only made her dislike it even more.

“You still don’t know the world. You have no idea how rough and dangerous this Murim is.”

“I’ll learn it firsthand.”

“You’ll regret it later.”

“Then I’ll regret it.”

But no matter how stubborn she was, it didn’t work on Jin Paecheon. Although he was widely known as a generous and open-minded man, when it came to his granddaughter’s marriage, his heart showed no leniency.

“The grandson of the Master of the True Dragon Manor will be attending tomorrow evening’s banquet. Make sure you are there.”

Suddenly, she recalled the words Geom Yeon had once said to her, questioning whether an act of kindness was truly for her or for the other person. Perhaps her grandfather was making the same mistake.

“Do you want to marry me off for my sake, or is it because you want peace of mind for yourself, Grandpa?”

Her grandfather didn’t appear flustered as she was. Jin Paecheon answered without hesitation.

“Both.”

Seeing Jin Paecheon’s determination not to back down, Jin Haryeong decided to relent for now.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I understand your intentions, Grandpa, but that’s not truly for my sake.

* * *

“Phew, phew.”

After his training, Seo Daeryong was catching his breath, clearly a different person from before.

When he trained under Gu Cheonpa, he practiced diligently without direction; now, his training was different. There was an enemy he needed to fight, and he was training with the focus on how to defeat that enemy. Through this practical training, Seo Daeryong was stepping onto the true path of a martial artist.

“Young Master, I want to become stronger!”

Moments like this come. Not just vaguely wanting to get stronger while fooling around, but wanting to push through the hardship of barely being able to breathe, determined to try harder. This is real resolve.

“Yes, become stronger. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“You must watch over me.”

“Yes, I’ll definitely keep an eye on you.”

Right now, Seo Daeryong was like a small giant. You may feel grateful to me, but truly, I’m the one who’s thankful. Because of the moment when you said the Cult wouldn’t change, my regression could find its direction.

When Seo Daeryong finished his martial arts training and returned, Jin Haryeong was waiting at the inn.

“That sight doesn’t seem strange anymore. What brings her here today?”

Her expression was a bit darker than usual.

“She looks like someone who needs advice.”

“The granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader seeking advice from the son of the Cult Leader. In the end, you’re trying to find everything out, aren’t you? Where is the Murim Alliance’s Forbidden Ground? To open the secret vault, you need to….”

“Enough of that!”

“Yes!”

Seo Daeryong went up to his room, and I walked over to where she was sitting.

As soon as she saw me, Jin Haryeong asked bluntly.

“When you were cheering, did you shout for me to buy you noodles?”

“You heard that?”

“Your words just pierced right into my ears.”

“I’ve always had a loud voice.”

“Have a seat.”

I sat down across from her.

She filled my glass with liquor.

“Do you drink well?”

“It depends on the occasion.”

“What kind of occasion do you drink well at? When you’re with good company?”

“No, actually, I get drunk quickly when I’m with good company.”

“What about then?”

“I drink well when I’m angry. I get worked up, talk a lot, and sober up quickly. When emotions run high, alcohol feels like water. Of course, I end up regretting it the next day because of the hangover.”

“You swear, ‘If I drink again, I’m a fool!’”

“Exactly. You know well.” 4

We emptied our drinks together. Jin Haryeong placed her empty glass on the table and spoke.

“I’m drinking well today too.”

“Are you angry again today as well?”

“What do you mean again?”

“You usually come when you’re upset, don’t you?”

“It’s not that I come because I’m angry, it’s that I leave angry. Because of someone.”

I laughed at her words.

“Do you drink what a attendant pours?”

“It depends on the attendant.”

I poured her a drink. Staring at me intently, she suddenly asked.

“Ever thought of shaving that beard?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Then, would you be willing to let yourself be used for my sake? Just for one day.”

“I am willing.”

She looked at me with a surprised expression.

“You won’t shave your beard, but you’ll let yourself be used?”

“It’s just for a day, right? It takes a long time to grow a beard.”

“Aren’t you going to ask what it’s about?”

“It must be something very troubling for you, Lady.”

“You might end up in trouble. Someone could hold a grudge against you. You could be humiliated.”

“Grudges, humiliation—that’s just part of a attendant’s life. What could be worse?”

“Then please accompany me to the Murim Alliance banquet tomorrow. You’ll get to meet my grandfather as well. Can you do that?”

I blinked a few times before answering.

“That’s a bit difficult.”

“Coward.”

“That’s just how attendants are.”

Jin Haryeong looked at me and laughed.

“I didn’t really plan on asking for your help in the first place. Getting involved in my affairs wouldn’t end well for you. But thanks for the offer, even if it was just words.”

She stood up from her seat.

“There, you can struck out one of three times.”

Just then, a young man walked over to us.

“Lady Jin.”

The moment I saw him, I was taken aback. He was someone I knew. Someone who had a direct connection to me before my regression.

“I am Jo Sohyeop of the True Dragon Manor. We met once before. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”

Jo Sohyeop.

The Jo Sohyeop I knew wasn’t from the True Dragon Manor.

After Hwa Moogi went into seclusion, Jo Sohyeop became the head of the newly rising Divine Dragon Family, a prominent faction within the orthodox Murim. The True Dragon Manor would change its name to the Divine Dragon Family under his leadership and flourish. It would grow to represent the orthodox factions after the closure of the Murim Alliance gates.

This was the very family I visited to obtain the Divine Incense Brazier, the second component of the Great Regression Technique.

‘So, in your youth around this time, you approached Jin Haryeong.’

I knew exactly what kind of person Jo Sohyeop was.

He was the epitome of a hypocrite, a man who lived the life of a great hero while hiding his cruel and ruthless nature. He was willing to do anything for his success and felt no pangs of conscience about it. 5

If the Jo Sohyeop of now had the same nature as the Jo Sohyeop I knew back then?

I glanced at Jin Haryeong.

This woman, she’s in danger now.

Could it be that her life turned out the way it did not because of the Heavenly Society, but because of this asshole?

Jo Sohyeop looked at me and asked.

“Who might this person be?”

Our gazes met, and she smiled faintly as she answered.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just a attendant.”

1 : Lol, he’s relentless XDXDXD Then again, she did leave the bill to him 3 times XDXDXD
2 : You should talk, fight, cry your frustrations, and then make up. Mugeuk’s guide to better relationships ^^
3 : Agreed, the culprits are those who ambushed them. You might want to protect your granddaughter, but coercing her is bad. It’s her life, not yours.
4 : One day, the Cult Leader, the Demon Supremes, the Murim alliance leader and granddaughter, the Unorthodox Alliance Master, and Jeong Dae will get together for a drink. They will all rotate around Mugeuk, I can already see it.
5 : An ‘hypocritical Orthodox’ ‘Trash Young Master’ smart enough to hide his nature ? Witchcraft !!!!