Absolute Regression

Jin Haryeong ordered noodles and alcohol.

She had come alone, but for some reason, she ordered two bowls of noodles.

Her expressionless face and quiet tone made people tense. The server who took her order and Seo Daeryong, who sat across from her, couldn’t properly meet her gaze.

However, she had a knack for identifying those who didn’t get tense around her.

Our eyes met, and a slight glimmer of curiosity passed through her gaze. It was probably rare for her to find someone who looked at her so calmly.

But soon, she turned her gaze elsewhere.

Seo Daeryong’s voice rang in my ears.

—She’s really beautiful. The women from the orthodox sects are truly stunning.

His voice was filled with admiration.

Even though she must have noticed Seo Daeryong’s secretive glances, she didn’t seem to care, as if it were an everyday occurrence.

Soon, two bowls of noodles and the alcohol were served.

As she was about to pour herself a drink, Seo Daeryong mustered up some courage.

“Allow me to pour you a drink.”

Jin Haryeong stared at Seo Daeryong intently.

“I mean no harm. It’s just that sitting at the same table feels like fate.”

But Jin Haryeong, without a word, poured herself a drink and drank alone.

A wave of self-reproach came through in Seo Daeryong’s voice.

—Ah, that was so cliché, wasn’t it? Saying it’s fate because we’re sitting at the same table! Ah! Even my grandfather wouldn’t have said something like that. 1

At that moment, Jin Haryeong set down her cup and asked me a question.

“Are you participating in the Soaring Dragon Tournament?”

I looked at her for a moment before glancing at Seo Daeryong and replying.

“Our Young Master will be participating.”

“Young Master?”

“Yes, I am his attendant.”

Jin Haryeong looked at me and Seo Daeryong with an expression of surprise. Her gaze seemed to say, ‘Aren’t you the Young Master and the other one the attendant?’ Seo Daeryong scolded me for no reason.

“This young rascal grew a beard, so it’s confusing the lady. You fool! Isn’t your messy beard confusing for her?”

“I apologize, Young Master.”

Soon, she began eating her noodles, indifferent to our conversation.

Another thought from Seo Daeryong reached me.

—Now that I take another look, she’s not that special. This woman. 2

I inwardly chuckled as I watched Seo Daeryong pout.

At that moment, a man in his early thirties entered the inn. Judging by his aura and stride, he was clearly a skilled martial artist, likely acting as Jin Haryeong’s escort. ꞦÄNọΒΕs̈

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“Sit down.”

“You need to leave now.”

“Sit down first. It’s not just the two of us here, is it?”

The man quickly scanned us before sitting down next to her.

She pushed the bowl of noodles towards him.

“Eat. The noodles here are good.”

She had ordered two bowls of noodles because she knew this man would come looking for her.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not fine. Just eat.”

“Okay.”

The man began eating the noodles. He slurped the noodles and quickly finished the broth as well.

If Lee Ahn were here, she would have understood the man. She would have said that escorts inevitably get into the habit of eating quickly like that.

Then, Jin Haryeong spoke to him.

“If you keep eating that fast, you’ll die of stomach problems before you get killed by a blade.”

“I’m fine.”

“Of course, you’re fine. I’m the one who’s always not fine.” 3

The man stood up and urged her to hurry.

“You need to go now. They’re probably looking for you.”

“Yes, I should go.”

Jin Haryeong finished her drink and stood up. She then left with the man.

As she disappeared into the distance, Seo Daeryong looked on with a wistful expression and spoke.

“She came like fate, only to eat noodles and leave.”

“Weren’t you saying she wasn’t that special when you looked at her again?”

“My heart’s just narrow, it’s not like she’s not beautiful. She’s the prettiest woman I’ve seen here.” 4

“That woman’s out of your league.”

“Why? Are you saying that someone who looks like a servant, like me, has no chance? Right?”

“Even a handsome young master like me, who can’t hide his identity no matter how long he grows his beard, has no chance.”

“Why not you, Pavilion Leader?”

“Because a love between the Heavenly Demon’s son and the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter is too fated.”

Seo Daeryong was shocked by the mention of the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.

“The Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter?”

“Yes.”

“Why would the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter eat noodles in an inn like this? And even share a table?”

“I wouldn’t know. Maybe she got tired of the expensive, exquisite dishes served in banquet halls and decided to run off. Or maybe she just wanted to eat the noodles here.”

“Ah! Life is really unpredictable. Who would’ve thought I’d end up sharing a table with the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter at an inn in front of the Murim Alliance and furthermore with the Pavilion Leader?”

“And that’s not all. You’ll also be facing her in the martial arts competition.”

Seo Daeryong was even more shocked.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s going to participate in the Soaring Dragon Tournament.”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened.

This was why I remembered this year’s Soaring Dragon Tournament so well. It was the tournament that made her name known to everyone.

The winner of this tournament was none other than Jin Haryeong.

At the time, I just thought it wasn’t surprising and moved on. After all, it wasn’t unusual for the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter to win a martial arts tournament for the younger generation.

But now I know. I know that the Heavenly Society leader was behind this tournament.

The trajectory of Jin Haryeong’s fate, which would later astonish the world, began with this tournament.

“Win, Investigator Seo.”

Seo Daeryong took a sip of the alcohol in front of him, sensing the sincerity in my words.

“You say things I can’t respond to sober.”

The next day, Seo Daeryong’s first match took place.

The Murim Alliance’s outer grounds had been set up with dozens of martial arts stages, and each one was bustling with participants and spectators.

Despite the large crowds, the matches were proceeding in an orderly fashion.

There was a certain aura of authority that the Murim Alliance exuded. Moreover, the martial artists overseeing the tournament belonged to the Blue Dragon Group, one of the Murim Alliance’s elite groups, so no one dared to cause trouble or make a scene.

A martial artist in charge of the Hwangja division, where Seo Daeryong was assigned, came over to explain the rules.

“If you intentionally inflict serious injuries on your opponent or kill them, you will be immediately disqualified. You could also face imprisonment, so be careful. This is a fair competition, not a fight to the death.”

His first opponent was a martial artist from a sword sect in Hubei. He had a rather solid build and sharp eyes.

“I’m so nervous I could die.”

“Were you this nervous when you took the investigator promotion test at the Underworld Pavilion?”

“I wasn’t nervous at all back then.”

“It’s the same here. What you’ve worked hard for.”

Seo Daeryong widened his eyes and looked at me.

“I know how hard you’ve trained, more than anyone. That’s why you’re here. If it weren’t for that, I’d be the one up there with an even longer beard.”

My words seemed to bolster his confidence, and Seo Daeryong nodded vigorously.

“I’ll win.”

Seo Daeryong defeated his opponent in just three moves and came back down. He didn’t even draw his blade.

“That was too easy.”

“Don’t forget whose disciple you are.”

Seo Daeryong finally had a chance to objectively assess his abilities. He didn’t yet realize how crucial this was for a martial artist like him.

Just then, a martial artist overseeing the matches came over to inform us.

“There will be another match in the afternoon, so don’t go anywhere and wait here.”

Since it was still early in the tournament, it seemed there were two matches per day.

“You’re saying that if we get injured in the morning match, we have to fight the afternoon match in the same condition. Does that mean they want to test our fighting spirit too?”

“Fighting spirit? No, it’s just because the schedule is tight.”

“Don’t underestimate the determination of our righteous faction!”

“Yes, Young Master! Let’s ignite our fighting spirit!”

Seo Daeryong easily won the afternoon match as well. This time, he won in one move, his saber still in his sheath.

“How do you feel about winning all your matches on the first day?”

“It feels good.”

Seo Daeryong had been diligently learning from Gu Cheonpa, but he had never actually fought in a real match like this before.

“I was really nervous before stepping up, but once I was on the stage, I wasn’t that nervous anymore. It was kind of a strange experience.”

“I told you it would be a good experience.”

“I’ve never regretted following your advice, Pavilion Leader.”

“Go ahead and rest.”

“What about you, Pavilion Leader?”

“I’ll take a look around before heading back.”

“Alright, I’ll go ahead.”

After sending Seo Daeryong ahead, I walked around the arena.

All the matches were still in full swing on every stage.

At that moment, I noticed one stage particularly crowded with spectators. When I got closer, I saw that Jin Haryeong, whom I had seen yesterday, was on the stage.

Being the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader and known as the most beautiful woman in Hubei, she was naturally the center of attention. The spectators were exchanging stories about her.

“Why did the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter enter this competition?”

“I guess even if you’re his granddaughter, you don’t just get a free pass. If she wants to join the Murim Alliance, she has to prove herself with her skills.”

“You’re right. Didn’t her older brother also win the competition a few years ago and then join the Murim Alliance?”

“As expected! Our Alliance Leader is truly a fair and just man.”

Jin Haryeong also defeated her opponent without even drawing her sword.

As she descended from the stage to loud cheers, she didn’t give anyone a glance and left the arena. Her aloof demeanor only made the crowd more excited.

After watching a few more matches, I returned to the inn. Seo Daeryong had gone up the mountain to train and came back late at night. Although he had won easily today, he seemed to be concerned about the upcoming matches.

“As I mentioned before, I can’t stand not being the best. If I’m going to compete, I have to give it my all.”

Seo Daeryong’s strong determination didn’t just come out of nowhere. It was a personality forged through hard work.

Seo Daeryong won his match the next day as well.

“You mean you didn’t even watch my match?”

“There was an interesting match on another stage.”

“Who was it? Don’t tell me it was the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”

“That’s right.”

I watched Jin Haryeong’s match again. Given Seo Daeryong’s skills, it was possible that he might have to face her. Of course, since they were in different groups, it wouldn’t be immediate, but if he won his group and advanced to the finals, he might end up facing her.

Moreover, there was a more important reason to pay attention to her. She was the target and the central figure in the conspiracy that Heavenly Society leader was orchestrating this time. She would undoubtedly be the conduit that connected them to me.

“What if I run into a strong opponent?”

“Do you think I’d just let that happen? I checked who your opponent was before you went up. You attacked his left weak spot and won, didn’t you?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“I saw it in the way he walked.”

I eased Seo Daeryong’s surprise. After all, this was the moment when I should be impressed by him.

“Feels good to win, doesn’t it?”

“Honestly, it feels amazing!”

“Well done.”

Seo Daeryong couldn’t hide the joy on his face.

“Do you know when I felt the best? Surprisingly, it wasn’t the moment I took down my opponent. It was when I stepped down from the stage after the match. That moment, when people were looking at me, cheering, and applauding, was the most thrilling and exciting. I realized this time how much I care about others’ attention.”

“The stronger you become, the more you’ll crave that attention.”

“No way, right?”

“Why not? Do you think you’ll become more reserved? More humble?”

“Won’t I?”

“Let’s imagine someone becomes the Greatest of All Time. When that moment comes, will it be better because they defeated the previous Greatest of All Time? Or will it be better because from that day on, everyone respects and admires them as the Greatest of All Time?”

Imagine going somewhere and hearing, ‘The Greatest of All Time is here!’ Imagine everyone you meet looking at you with respect and envy. Imagine always hearing the drums of victory and the sound of applause and cheers.

“Everyone’s the same at heart. In fact, the stronger you become, the hotter your desire might burn and the more primal it may become. Do you think the Greatest of All Time has a broader mind? Really? Can you handle the trap of thinking, ‘I’m the Greatest of All Time, and yet they treat me like this’? Do you have the confidence to keep that pettiness buried even when you no longer need to hide it?”

After a brief pause, Seo Daeryong spoke.

“But you, Leader, aren’t like that, right? You won’t be, right?”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t be? Am I not human? I’m the same. I just try not to be.”

“Having this conversation with you, Leader, makes me feel really good. It finally feels like I’ve become a true martial artist. I can’t remember the last time my heart raced like this. I sincerely apologize for insisting that I wouldn’t participate in the tournament.”

However, Seo Daeryong’s feelings changed completely the next day.

“I almost died! I’m not exaggerating; I really almost died! Ugh, I told you I didn’t want to do this! I want to go back!”

“You just got scratched. You’re fine.”

“Scratched? Can’t you see this blood? If I hadn’t dodged at the last second, I’d have a hole this big in my shoulder! And that sword was enormous.”

“Your opponent can’t even get up right now.”

The opponent who had caused a scratch on Seo Daeryong’s shoulder was still unconscious and hadn’t come to his senses.

“I don’t care, please send me home! I need to water my dear Iinja !”

But the next day, Seo Daeryong’s mood brightened again.

Even off the martial stage, Seo Daeryong was receiving the attention he had always wanted.

Even while he was just walking, many people were glancing at him. They were whispering amongst themselves.

“What is this?”

“Apparently, the guy you beat yesterday was a favorite to win the Soaring Dragon Tournament. Thanks to that, you’re now one of the people getting attention in this competition.”

He had absorbed all the attention from the tough opponent he had defeated the day before.

“Don’t stare at them, but look at that guy in the blue clothes on the right. He glanced at me twice. Oh, he’s looking again.”

“Even so, could you walk a little faster?”

Seo Daeryong was savoring everyone’s attention so much that he ended up moving too slowly.

“Ah! Those women over on the far left are whispering while looking at me.”

“They’re probably just discussing what to have for lunch.”

At that moment, a young woman with a sword hurried over to Seo Daeryong and greeted him.

“I watched your match yesterday. Fight well today, too.”

She bowed and left.

Seo Daeryong stood frozen, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

“Leader.”

“What?”

“You didn’t hire people to boost my mood by paying them to say those things, did you?”

“If I consider how full of yourself you are, I’d frankly like to say yes, but no.”

“Really, it’s not true? This feels like a dream.”

Seo Daeryong was truly overjoyed. It seemed this was the first time a woman had approached him and shown such interest.

I hoped he would savor this joy and excitement. He would never forget the martial competition here.

I wanted him to one day tell this story while sitting with his grandson on his knee, starting with, “It may be hard to believe, but when this old man was young…”

“Let’s go! Time to win!”

Was it thanks to the woman’s encouragement?

Seo Daeryong kept winning, eventually claiming victory in the Imperial Group and advancing to the finals. The finals were a martial competition among the top contestants from each group.

“I’m going all the way!”

Seo Daeryong was burning with determination, separate from his mission. Yes, this was one of those rare moments in life. More thrilling, exciting, and valuable than becoming the greatest under the heavens in old age was this moment right now. Yes, burn bright, Daeryong. 5

---

1 : Yeah, that was so cringe, F to you.

2 : *Mental puffed out cheeks*

3 : I wonder what a meeting between him and Lee Ahn would lead to….

4 : What about Lee Ahn ? And Jo Hyang, your crush ? ^^

5 : Like a Phoenix~~

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