Absolute Regression

It was because they weren’t villains.

If either Seo Gong or Im Hyang were villains, their married life wouldn’t have been a prolonged hell. One of them would have left, or one would have killed the other.

But they were both ordinary people. They grew fond of each other while fighting and living together, despising but being unable to separate. It was a relationship and life that they never wanted to repeat.

“Come inside. Food is prepared, so please have a bite.”

Lee Ahn and I went inside. Seo Jin followed us.

“Let me guide you.”

In this life, I intended to connect Lee Ahn with Seo Jin, whom I was acquainted with in my previous life.

Walking together, I sent a telepathic message to Lee Ahn.

—Lee Ahn, Seo Jin here is a candidate for the second squad leader of the Haunted Shade Corps.

It was unexpected, and her eyes widened in surprise.

—Imagine having a squad leader in your Haunted Shade Corps who can use ghost techniques.

—That would be amazing. Our squad’s name even includes the character for ‘ghost’!

—Whether you take this woman under your wing or not is up to you.

Lee Ahn trusted me absolutely, so she didn’t question ‘why her?’. Instead, she spoke to Seo Jin.

“Congratulations on your brother’s wedding.”

“Thank you. I thought he’d never get married, but here he is.”

Although it was their first meeting, Seo Jin replied cheerfully to Lee Ahn.

“Why? He looks good, and his personality seems nice.”

“Despite that, he is just a bookworm.”

Seo Jin felt a liking for Lee Ahn. I knew the reason well.

Seo Jin in the past also liked pretty women. She said she felt good when she saw beautiful things. She liked beautiful women, flowers, and pretty clothes. Such tastes didn’t fit a wanderer, probably because she had grown up smoothly in a prestigious family.

“I’ve only heard about ghost techniques but never experienced them.”

“They’re nothing special.”

Seo Jin briefly stopped walking and raised her hand. Black smoke rose from her palm and quickly formed the shape of a snake.

Although it was a small snake made of smoke, it felt strangely real, as if it might turn into a black serpent at any moment.

Whoosh!

The snake suddenly darted toward Lee Ahn.

However, before it reached her, it dispersed into smoke.

“That’s amazing!”

“You’re not scared?”

“There was no killing intent.”

Seo Jin’s eyes flashed as she looked at Lee Ahn. Even without any killing intent, anyone would naturally flinch if a snake suddenly lunged at them. However, Lee Ahn was completely unperturbed. ŔåɴŐᛒĘṠ

“Show me again next time.”

“I’ll bring out something bigger and scarier then.”

“Sounds good!”

I thought their personalities would get along well. Both women had a straightforward and considerate nature.

What if Cheong Myeon and Seo Jin both joined the Haunted Shade Corps?

Cheong Myeon could maintain a stern atmosphere as the first-in-command, and Seo Jin could lighten the mood as the second-in-command. The picture already looked quite promising.

However, it wouldn’t be an easy feat. One was a candidate for the Demon Supreme, and the other was a blood relative of the Gwi Gate Lord.

Several guests had already arrived in the main hall, and more continued to come. There were guests of the Spirit Master and guests of Im Hyang.

Once all the invited guests had arrived, Seo Gong and Im Hyang also entered the main hall.

They toasted together, celebrating their upcoming wedding.

Most of the invitees were heirs of prestigious families, all well-mannered.

But there was one exception. It was Ju Myung from the Seo Jong Faction, who had been friends with Im Hyang since childhood. His expression had been dark since he arrived, showing his discontent with this marriage.

Was it the alcohol he had been drinking from the start? Or was it that he secretly liked Im Hyang all along?

He openly spoke to Im Hyang in the presence of Seo Gong.

“To be honest, as a long-time friend, I can’t congratulate you on this marriage.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“A martial family should marry within the martial world to avoid future troubles.”

Naturally, the Spirit Master was offended by these words. Moreover, it was a blatant disregard for him, especially when he was right there.

But since Ju Myung was Im Hyang’s guest, Seo Gong spoke to him in a pleasant tone.

“Our sect is also a legitimate martial faction within the martial world.”

“No one here considers Gwi Gate a proper martial faction.”

“How can you say that? Our sect has significantly contributed to the martial world.”

“Spirit Master, do you believe Gwi Gate’s techniques are legitimate martial arts?”

Seo Gong was momentarily speechless. No one had ever questioned him in such a manner before, and he didn’t know how to respond.

“Martial arts and sorcery are distinctly different.”

When Ju Myung crossed the line, a sharp voice echoed through the main hall.

“Then shall we see just how great your martial arts are against our so-called sorcery?”

The person who stepped forward was Seo Jin. Seeing her raise one eyebrow slightly while glaring at her opponent reminded me of the old days. Even during our wandering days, whenever she got angry, one of her eyebrows would rise like that.

As she extended her hand, a black haze started to rise around Ju Myung.

“What!”

Ju Myung, startled, looked around and drew his sword.

“What is this? What’s going on?”

He began to swing his sword wildly in the air. It was clear that he was seeing an illusion.

And I could see what he was seeing. A dark shadow with only eyes and a mouth was rushing toward him. Its appearance was so terrifying and realistic that even though I knew it was an illusion, it made my heart jump.

I also saw the way to break this illusion. It was a combination of the Blood Eye Essence and the New Eye Technique.

Ju Myung’s wild sword swinging could have injured the people around him.

As Seo Jin withdrew her sorcery, Ju Myung, who had been swinging his sword in the air, soon realized he had fallen for a Gwi Gate technique. Despite knowing it was an illusion, he couldn’t help but swing his sword. That’s the power of Gwi Gate’s sorcery.

He glared at Seo Jin.

“How dare you humiliate me with such cheap tricks… I will never forgive you…”

Slap!

His cheek turned red. The person who had walked up and slapped him was Im Hyang.

“Do you want to die? Are you still drunk? How dare you say you won’t forgive anyone?”

“You!”

“Are you really my friend? A friend shouldn’t act like this, right? You’re the only friend I have, and you make me feel this miserable?”

Ju Myung couldn’t say a word in response. Her words about him being her only friend seemed to pierce him like a dagger.

Ju Myung let out a short sigh and said,

“I’m sorry.”

The rage that had burned like a flame had already disappeared.

“I’m sorry for hitting you, too.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been hit by you many times since we were kids.”

Ju Myung also apologized to Seo Gong and Seo Jin.

“I’m sorry. It was rude of me to belittle your family. I apologize.”

But he still had some lingering resentment.

“Still, I dislike this marriage! I oppose it!”

With that, Ju Myung ran away.

My eyes turned to Seo Gong.

Spirit Master, normally you should be the one shouting like that.

‘I hate this marriage! Don’t congratulate it! Am I the only one against this marriage, even though I’m the groom?’

Seo Gong tried to scold Seo Jin for her rash actions, but Im Hyang stopped him.

She then apologized to him.

“I’m sorry. We’ve been friends since we were young, so I guess he felt very upset about my marriage.”

“Isn’t it because he cares about you that much?”

“If he cared, he shouldn’t act that way. He was just drunk and acting foolish. Forget about it.”

Seeing the Spirit Master’s eyes deepen as he looked at her, I sighed inwardly.

‘He’s falling deeper.’

Today, Im Hyang seemed like a good woman. If Seo Gong could accurately understand and appreciate her personality, they might actually make a good match.

* * *

Seo Gong stepped outside to get some fresh air during the banquet.

Although he didn’t show it in front of Im Hyang, he felt increasingly downcast.

It was because of Ju Myung earlier. He kept regretting not stepping in when Ju Myung expressed his dissatisfaction.

Did Im Hyang think of him as a coward?

If he had stepped in, he would have won. Should he have demonstrated his skills properly? No. His father always warned against Gwi Gate getting entangled in martial conflicts. Martial conflicts? It was just a spat among friends. He should have intervened!

The Spirit Master’s mind kept wavering. He disliked his current self, regretting not stepping in more than the act of not stepping in itself.

Lost in thought, he found himself at his study.

Standing by the window, he looked into his study. This was where he felt most at ease. Whenever he got scolded by his father or faced any problems, he always came here. This place was Seo Gong’s only refuge and sanctuary.

He knew.

He was not the type to be happy subduing someone like Ju Myung and making them kneel. He was happiest reading, researching, and quietly reflecting.

‘I should show this place to Im Hyang.’

He wanted to boast to Im Hyang about how much he read. For some reason, he felt that urge even more strongly today.

Just then, someone spoke.

“You have a lot of books.”

Startled, Seo Gong turned around.

I was standing there, at the place I’ve always been whenever I visited him, having followed him.

“I came out for some fresh air and ended up walking here.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone in the martial world with so many books.”

“I’ve liked reading since I was young.”

“I see. There’s someone in my circle who loves books as well.”

“Oh, really? Introduce us next time if you get the chance.”

“Of course.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I imagined his expression when he realized that his opponent was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The image of Gu Cheonpa’s disapproving face as he looked at Seo Gong also came to mind. 1

Together, we naturally began walking towards the main hall.

“The more I see Young Master Seo and Miss Im, the more I think you two really suit each other.”

“If you’re saying that to comfort me about what happened earlier, there’s no need. I’ve already forgotten about it.”

“To me, it looked like jealousy. But I understand him as well. If a friend I’ve liked for a long time was getting married, I’d want to flip the banquet table too.”

I was trying to lighten Seo Gong’s mood. Whether or not I would try to stop his marriage, I needed to get close to him to a certain extent.

And the fastest way to get close to someone is to say what they want to hear.

“One day, that young master will wake up in the middle of the night, drink cold water, and think, ‘Why did I act like such a fool back then?’”

The Spirit Master laughed at this. Since he was upset about the matter, it was only right to cheer him up using the same topic.

“You did well to hold back. If you hadn’t, the one waking up in the middle of the night would have been you, Young Master Seo.”

Seo Gong stopped walking and looked at me before suddenly asking,

“Have we met before?”

Seo Gong, do you sense some fate? Well, I guess if it’s you, you might feel something.

“This is our first meeting.”

“But looking at you, you don’t seem unfamiliar.”

“There are people who, even if you meet them for the first time, feel like old friends. They seem trustworthy, and you feel like taking care of them.”

“It’s not to that extent.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve felt a liking for you from the start. Seeing your books earlier made me respect you even more.”

I continued to say pleasant things to lower his guard. If even the cunning Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Evil Smiling Demon couldn’t withstand my flattery technique, getting close to this young Spirit Master was a piece of cake.

And the most important point of this flattery technique is to withdraw precisely when it’s appropriate. You have to give them time to reflect on your words and feel good.

“Well then, I’ll head inside first.”

Leaving him there, I entered the main hall.

* * *

On the way back after the banquet, I asked Lee Ahn,

“What did you think of Seo Jin?”

Lee Ahn had been talking with Seo Jin throughout the banquet.

“I liked her. She’d make an excellent squad leader.”

“My recommendations never fail.”

“But there’s one issue.”

“You mean whether she’ll join our cult?”

“Yes.”

“The Gwi Gate is originally a sect that straddles both righteousness and evil. In the past, some ancestors of the Gwi Gate were even members of our cult. If we persuade her well, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

“You know a lot about Gwi Gate?”

“I did some studying before I came.”

In truth, I had heard all this from Seo Jin in the past. During our days as wanderers, Seo Jin never wanted to be tied down to any sect. She didn’t want to belong anywhere, so she could go anywhere.

“Anyway, we’ll have to return to our cult soon, so we can’t take her with us right now. We just need to make sure she can find us later.”

One day, when she feels suffocated and wants to leave home, she should come find us, not live the life of a wanderer.

“You know, if she wants to contact us, she can leave her name at any Swallow Tail Inn across the Central Plains.”

“I’ll make sure to tell her when we part.”

Separately from Lee Ahn, I planned to keep an eye on Seo Jin’s actions. I wanted to ensure that the major threads of fate would lead to Lee Ahn.

“By the way, what about you, Young Master? How did the plan to stop the wedding go?”

“We’re changing tactics.”

This decision was made after observing Seo Gong and Im Hyang at the banquet today.

Gwak Bangju of our cult’s Iron Branch always says, a small difference creates a masterpiece. 2

I believe that this also applies to human relationships. A small difference can change the outcome. Even if we can’t change the person, we can change the relationship.

We are moved by a single word to be loyal for a lifetime, and we part ways because of a single word of disappointment. We hold grudges for a lifetime over a single word. That’s who we are.

So, my new strategy was this:

“Not to stop Seo Gong’s marriage, but to ensure that the two can live happily together.”

I can’t stop it, Seo Gong. You have to marry. But instead of opening the gates of hell, I’ll open another door for you. 3

1 : I can also imagine it ^^ A panicked, sweating, surprised Pikachu face ^^

2 : Best Blacksmith of the Cult

3 : Plus it is the best revenge ^^ He doesn’t stop their wedding in retaliation for his betrayal, but he make sure it is successful in repayment for his years of friendship ^^

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