Absolute Regression

Episode 280 I’ll have to see it myself.

Jin Ha-ryeong’s body was in the banquet hall, but his heart was not there.

While I was greeting and talking with the late exponents, I kept thinking about the sword dance drama and Ian. Ian’s beautiful image came to mind and I felt her prayers. The image of the sword dance standing next to him also came to mind.

‘Is your brother doing well?’

In a situation like this, there was no way he could see the later indices favoring him.

Among them, some were handsome and some were strong in martial arts. But when I thought about the sword dance, they all looked like kids. This is a side effect of learning about sword dance.

When I returned to my residence after a long meeting today, Jinha was waiting for me.

“Brother!”

I never thought my brother would be so happy.

“Still, I was going to go see you. “What happened?”

Judging by Jinha’s expression not being bad, the story seems to have ended well.

Instead of answering, Jinha asked her.

“What about the meeting?”

“Let’s memorize names, memorize faces, listen to all kinds of boasts, pretend to be friends, and then overthrow the Demon Cult! Let’s win, Apostle League! “It’s boringly the same.”

“That boring work will one day protect the political faction and the martial arts group.”

“My brother protects the martial arts world. “My role ends here.”

“If the Demon Cult takes over Wulin, do you think there will be a place to hide?”

My brother is also experiencing side effects. It’s a side effect of living as the grandson of a lord. The fear that the Demon Cult and the Apostolic Alliance might invade was rooted deep in my brother’s heart from a young age.

“Do you really think you’re the kind of person who dreams of unifying martial arts in sword dance? “By annihilating us all?”

No matter how much you think about it, it’s something you can’t imagine. The appearance of Geommugeuk standing on top of a mountain of corpses.

“I don’t know. What kind of person is he? One thing is certain: if he dreams of unifying martial arts, it will not be easy to stop him.”

It wasn’t something my grandfather should have prevented. That was the work of Jin Ha-gun and Jin Ha-ryeong’s generation.

“You can never know your faith in someone during the process. The only time that belief is proven is when results come out. “We are still in the process.”

This applies to both the relationship with the master and the relationship with the sword dance. What happens if you do well 100 times? If you reveal your true colors at the last moment, it will be a disaster.

“Oh, I know how to say that. Isn’t it great? “My brother!”

After a moment, Jinha spoke.

“This is what Geommugeuk said.”

“ah!”

She seemed solemn for a moment, but then laughed loudly.

“My brother, who was doing well, has finally met his owner.”

Even when Jinha heard these words, he was not angry or displeased at all.

Because she was the only person he could confide in. He is the only person I feel comfortable having such sensitive conversations with.

“What do you think of him?”

Jin Ha-ryeong was curious about what her brother thought of sword dance.

Just like her, Jinha had a lot to say when thinking about sword dance. He is definitely a trustworthy person, but I don’t know how much to trust.

Nevertheless, Jinha acknowledged his opponent.

“He is a different size than me.”

Jin Ha reached out one hand and closed it as if he was catching a ball.

“If only I were this size.”

This time, I pretended to hold a large ball in front of my chest with both hands.

“This is the kind of person who can do sword dance. If you want to win against him, you’re going to have to start by acknowledging this.”

After meeting Sword Dance, my brother definitely changed. The fact that my proud older brother said something like this meant that something had changed.

Although Jin Ha-ryeong liked the change, he was also worried. I was worried about what would happen if I got too caught up in the sword dance.

“You can handle it, right?”

“You have to try to handle it. “If you don’t do it now, you won’t be able to do it later.”

Jinha’s eyes were resolute. Even though I am receiving help now, I felt the will to never be swayed by the sword dance.

“Look how I got over it.”

Jin Ha-ryeong clenched his fists with an expression of trust.

This time Jinha asked.

“How was it for you? “It’s been a while since you’ve seen a sword dance show, right?”

The tightly clenched fist opened weakly.

“It’s more repetitive there. I was shocked and flustered to meet him. But today he wasn’t the problem.”

This time, Jin Ha-ryeong imitated Jin Ha-gun.

“If I am this beautiful, it’s because I met someone this beautiful this time.”

Jin Ha-ryeong smiled as he looked at his brother who couldn’t understand.

“I realized that Hubei was a vast well.”

* * *

Jin Ha-gun arrived at Baek Cheon-gyeong’s workshop.

I remembered the request made by Geomgeuk in front of the door.

-Don’t pay attention and act like you normally do. Rather than trying to impress, subtly reveal that you are dissatisfied with this incident. That way he won’t get suspicious.

But Baek Cheon-gyeong was not in the workshop.

I was just about to leave when I suddenly looked at the decoration stand. The decorative table where the dolls were placed was covered with black cloth. Sometimes it was covered like this. But now the cloth covering it looks different.

Jinha walked slowly and was about to open the cloth when he felt a noise from behind.

When Jin Ha-gun turned around, Baek Cheon-gyeong was standing in front of the door.

“Master.”

“Are you here?”

Although he was curious about the contents under the cloth, Jinha left it as is and walked towards the master.

Baek Cheon-gyeong passed him, sat down in his seat, and started carving.

Crunchy.

These days, the time the master spends carving has increased a lot. I think it was just a hobby in the past.

Even the decoration was covered with cloth, so why bother cutting it?

“So, have you thought about how to get Cheonhwamun Gate back?”

The master’s eyes were still focused on the doll he was carving.

“I would like to appease those among the Cheonhwamun masters who support the political faction. As Cheonhwamun is a sect that has maintained neutrality for a long time, its loyalty to the Demonic Cult is not strong. Of course, the same applies to the main and apostolic alliances. It may take a long time as the atmosphere of the faction changes depending on the lord and leader, but if we can persuade the faction-oriented leaders within Cheonhwamun to our side…”

Jin Ha-gun carefully observed Baek Cheon-gyeong’s every move as he spoke. I could feel that they were not listening to what I was saying.

Is Master really waiting for him to find a way?

As if that wasn’t the case, Baek Cheon-gyeong cut Jin Ha-gun off and said,

“Aren’t you hurt by your pride?”

He provoked Jinha in a calm tone.

“Sama Jeong’s three successors gathered in one place. “The two of you returned with plenty of gifts, but you came back empty-handed.”

Are you talking about pride and comparing yourself to other successors? Jinha was angry, but tried to answer calmly.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of pride. Originally, Honam was their territory. Cheonhwamunju’s son was Inmyeonsusim. “My gift wasn’t there to begin with.”

Jinha faithfully followed Geommugeuk’s advice. He did not follow the master’s opinion, saying he was absolutely wrong.

“Master, why is Cheonhwamun so important?”

“Do you think I’m doing this because of Cheonhwamun?”

“Isn’t it?”

“no.”

“Then what is it for?”

Then, a surprising answer flowed from Baek Cheon-gyeong’s mouth.

“It is to prevent war.”

Jinha-gun froze at the word war.

“What does it mean?”

“Honam is on the border with Hubuk, where the headquarters of the Murim League is located, and has been a strategic point for generations. However, a large sect that had maintained neutrality there fell into the hands of the Demonic Cult. “It means the balance has been broken.”

“But isn’t it too much of a leap to say that a war will break out?”

“Why does this blindness exist? It exists to eliminate that slim probability. Wars can happen even over small, trivial incidents. This time you have greatly increased the probability of war breaking out. “It’s because of your desire to become a leader.”

For a moment, Jinha couldn’t answer anything. If it had been before I met the sword dance, I would have completely accepted the master’s words right here. He even blames himself for being greedy.

But not now. No matter how plausible it sounded, it was something to judge later.

Hiding his true feelings, Jinha asked with a slightly embarrassed face.

“So what should I do now?”

The master’s answer was cold.

“Why are you asking me that? “You did it, so you have to find the answer.”

Crunchy.

Baek Cheon-gyeong started carving again. Knowing that it was an unspoken order to congratulate the guests, Jinha quietly bowed his head and left the place. I still think I don’t know much about Master.

* * *

“Lower your arms a little more and put more pressure on your left leg.”

Geommugeuk was checking on Ian’s herbivory.

It’s been a while since I last saw Ian’s flying sword technique, which was even more developed. Of course, it will still take more effort and time to reach greatness. You have to train again and again to make it ripe. So, when the time comes, we need to make sure that it reaches its peak like a flower bud bursting open.

“Give more strength to your back. “If your balance is lost, all your posture will collapse.”

The two’s training was taking place in a safe house prepared by Jinhagun.

“Focus! “Why can’t I concentrate so much today?”

“sorry.”

Today, I couldn’t concentrate on martial arts training. The reason was unknown.

‘It’s not an opportunity that comes around often. ‘Let’s focus!’

Ian swung his sword as best as he could. After the martial arts training was over, Ian apologized again.

“I’m sorry, master.”

I thought there would be a scolding, but Geomugeuk showed an unexpected reaction.

“It was rather good. When I look at you, sometimes you don’t seem human. There are times when people can’t concentrate like this and they make mistakes. “It has to be like this.”

“Thank you for saying that, but I’m still disappointed. “It’s been a while since you taught me martial arts yourself.”

“Don’t worry, I will teach you often until you reach greatness.”

Ian said he liked it and shook his body as if he were dancing. Compared to how rigid she was when she first returned, she feels more free.

Yes, it is changing little by little. As these changes accumulate, one day it will become a different life. Ian, in this life you will never die in a pool of blood. I’ll let you dance and live like you do now.

Ian asked, pacing around me like a child.

“But, master. “Did you really bring me here to introduce you to Jean Sozer?”

“no.”

“Then why did you bring me here?”

“Why? “I made an excuse because I wanted to come out to play with you after a long time.”

Then Ian looked back at his butt.

“Some of my tails are missing. “You took it, right?”

Knowing that this was a very good answer, Geommugeuk pretended to stroke his own tail.

“Actually, I had more tails from the beginning.”

While we were laughing together, Jinha came to that place.

I came here thinking there would only be a sword dance, but when the woman was there, Jinha did not approach but stood at a distance and waited.

“Welcome.”

When the sword dance was called, Jinha finally approached it.

Meanwhile, Ian had put on a mask. Of course, that mask couldn’t hide her beauty.

“This is Ian, who serves Lord Sogyo.”

“I am Jinha, the Great Lord of Destruction.”

“Then let’s talk.”

“see you later.”

Ian greeted politely and entered the living quarters.

Jinha could tell at a glance. Who was the great beauty my younger brother was talking about?

He came next to me in the sword dance performance and asked vaguely.

“Are you in love?”

Jinha looked at the sword dance with an expression asking what he was talking about.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of. Isn’t it natural for a man to fall in love with a beautiful woman? “I understand everything.”

“Do you fall in love with the first woman you meet?”

If it comes out like this, I can’t just ignore it. It was like drawing a sword in a sword dance performance.

“It could be love at first sight.”

“I am not. “I don’t give my heart to someone I don’t even know.”

Since it was almost obvious that he was serious, Geommugeuk targeted the other side.

“Oh Ian. You need to work harder. It was less beautiful than it was to move the heart of this iron-clad man. I will tell it to her. “It was less beautiful to move your heart.”

Then Jinha was embarrassed.

“What is that! “Don’t say things like that for no reason!”

“That’s right? How dare you treat me with beauty! “Your beauty isn’t enough to move me!”

“no! “She is beautiful enough.”

“So are you in love?”

In the end, Jinha shook his head with an expression of defeat.

“Think whatever you want.”

Sword Dance Geuk smiled like a winner.

After joking around like this, Jinha told the story of his visit to his master.

“I came to see my master.”

Jinha relayed the exact conversation he had with Master.

Sword Dance thought for a moment. Looking at that scene, Jinha felt a strange sense of tension. His sword dance face is completely different from when he was joking just a moment ago.

After a while, the words that will come out of Geommugeuk’s mouth should also come out of your own mouth. You have to be able to think like that. Only then will you be able to face the sword dance.

“Did you feel shaken when you heard that?”

“Isn’t it possible that Master really did it for the sake of peace in the martial arts world?”

“That’s bullshit. If it was for the peace of the martial arts world, they shouldn’t have tried to save Cheonhwamunju’s son in the first place. Think about it. The leader of the Demonic Cult put pressure on the person he had captured and took him away from the Murim League in order to punish him. I just ignored it as my father was testing me. What would have happened if we had reacted harshly to that? “At that time, it would have been one step closer to war.”

Jinha nodded. I felt it was a pity that I couldn’t say this to Master right then and there.

“I must see your master in person.”

“Are you serious?”

Geommugeuk nodded. It was judged that it would not be easy to bring out his true character through Jinhagun. The opponent is moving too cautiously.

“How? “Master will never want to meet you.”

He had lived a secret life until now. I thought that no matter how much sword dance I did, I wouldn’t be able to find a way to see my master.

At that time, another person entered there. It was Jin Ha-ryeong.

“Your brother was there too.”

“What’s going on here?”

“You two have nothing to do. “I came to meet this warrior.”

Geommugeuk told her.

“Ian is in his room. Room at the end of the hallway. Go ahead and tell Ian. “Your brother is still moving my heart…”

“Stop!”

Jinha abruptly stopped talking. Jin Ha-ryeong, who could guess what the situation was just by looking at it, spoke to Geommugeuk.

“Even if you play with it, be sure to put it back where it belongs.”

“Of course. It’s the most dangerous toy in the world.”

Jin Ha-gun motioned to Jin Ha-ryeong, who said he couldn’t understand what he meant, not to deal with him and to go in quickly.

When she entered, Jinha said with a straight face.

“Are you going to keep messing around at this important time?”

“I thought of a way to meet your master.”

Geommugeuk spoke meaningfully to Jinha, who was surprised and embarrassed.

“Thanks to your brother, I came up with it.”