Absolute Regression

Lee Gong-ja until the end of the 68th episode.

“Suphonmazon has five disciples in total, but among them, considering their age and ability, the strong candidates for the succession battle are the first disciple, Yang Yang, and the third disciple, Cheongseon. For your information, Cheongseon is a woman.”

I asked about Seo Daeryong’s report.

“What is the reputation of the two within Seo Hwan-jin?”

“Given his age, experience and martial arts skills are more transferable, but Cheongseon is more popular within Seo Hwan-jin. Compared to her youth and beauty, Yang Yang has a vicious personality, and several demon magicians have already been injured by him. Some even died. Nevertheless, the deceased Soul Mazon cherished him and there was a high possibility that he would become his successor, but now the situation has changed.”

“Investigate both of them one by one. Military property, ability, hobbies, and even human relationships. “Everything.”

“All right.”

“Who will the Pungcheon religious leader choose?”

Seo Dae-ryong widened his eyes at my question.

“Will the leader of the Pungcheon Church choose one of them?”

“huh. So, I also sent you information about the disciples of the Sub-Soul Mazon.”

“Why?”

“Because I told you to get involved in Seo Hwan-jin’s succession battle.”

“oh my god! What are you planning again? no way?”

Seo Dae-ryong, whose thoughts were stuck somewhere, sent a message.

―Are you going to kill the Pungcheon religious leader too? Or transfer? Even Cheongseon?

-Am I a murderer? Kill them all.

Only then did Seo Dae-ryong feel relieved.

“Fortunately, the.”

“Everyone is worried that I might kill someone, that’s how I am these days.”

“Who else cared? “Master?”

“Master?”

“ah! “Mr. Hyeolcheon Doma.”

“You still don’t call me master, right?”

“You didn’t give me permission.”

However, Seo Dae-ryong seems to be treating him as his master. I saw the word ‘Master’ coming out without realizing it.

I felt that Seo Dae-ryong was falling more and more in love with Doma. In fact, Seo Dae-ryong must have already fallen in love with the sight of Hyeolcheon Doma reading a book.

“So who will the leader of Pungcheon choose?”

“How would I know?”

“How can you know if you, a genius at senior admissions, don’t know?”

“I studied hard and was admitted to the top of the class, but I am not a genius.”

“You said you were a genius, right?”

“That’s what the Lord said.”

“You nodded your head smugly then, right?”

“I admit it. In my heart, I also have a bravado that I can’t help. So please downgrade me from a genius to someone who is good at practical work. Instead, we will make sure to investigate the two people.”

Seo Dae-ryong bowed and left the office.

* * *

“So who should we support?”

In response to the Pungcheon cult leader’s question, the shackled man was only looking at the sound bell.

“Why are you looking at that servant like that? “Is the evil spirit engraved on the bell a horse?”

Then the shackled man suddenly spoke.

“How did you know?”

“Why are you so scared?”

“Sometimes he talks to me.”

“What are they saying?”

The shackled man said, looking blankly at the demon.

“Why do you live like that?”

A moment of silence.

“So what did you answer?”

“In the past, I answered that I live like this because I am a narrow-minded and greedy person.”

“now?”

“I answered that maybe… it wasn’t necessarily because of that person.”

“So what did you say?”

The man in shackles said nothing. After urging him once more, the shackled man looked pitifully at the leader of the Pungcheon Church.

“Why do you keep asking? What does the sculpture say? “Are you crazy?”

The head of the Pungcheon Church made a bewildered expression.

“It’s strange that cancer doesn’t affect me. Sooner or later I’ll be sitting there and having a conversation with that carved demon. Why are you being ignored like that? Why? “You evil spirit, I know because you’ve been watching me all this time!”

“This is Cheongseon.”

“It’s a surprise! “Please, at least take the rider’s approach and stab me!”

Although he was a man with unpredictable shackles, he was a valuable person who gave answers like this when needed.

“Why Cheongseon? From what I can see, it looks like Yang Yang will be the successor.”

“Then choose that person.”

The shackled man closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say.

The leader of Pungcheon quietly went to his side.

“Why Cheongseon?”

“Just choose to transfer according to your confidence. “How long will someone like a cult leader follow what others say?”

“It’s good, I’ll do my best in blue line.”

The leader of Pungcheon believed in the shackled man like a rock. There was no need for a reason. Because there was a past that he showed so far.

“You mean Cheongseon? “Then how can I make her my disciple?”

“I don’t know that.”

“What if you don’t know?”

“Wouldn’t it be weirder to know that while being tied up here like this?”

“but. “That too.”

However, the leader of Pungcheon did not say that he would release his shackles. Even though we’ve talked about all sorts of things up until now, we’ve never said that one thing.

If you take off the shackles, the man will quickly leave himself. Who in the world would like someone who made something like this and stay? The moment you release it, it’s over. Therefore, the term ‘loosening the shackles’ was an absolute taboo in the Pungcheon cult.

“Shall I visit Cheongseon?”

“What are you going to say when you go?”

“Become my disciple. Is it too overbearing? I allow you to become my disciple. how is it?”

“So, I will become your disciple.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Please change your situation. “An old man whose true intentions are unknown comes and suddenly asks you to become his disciple. If you were a sect leader, would you fall for that?”

“No problem.”

“It’s the same with everyone else. “It just doesn’t work.”

“Surely you have to pay for what you say?”

The shackled man nodded.

“Will I become your master and teach you martial arts? “If you have to pay the price, you have to pay it there.”

“It’s an old way of thinking. “Those who are more desperate will pay the price.”

“I don’t like it. Now I want to receive, not give. By nature, I am a person who much prefers receiving! Come pack a bunch of stuff to fill my stomach and tell me to learn! “Tell me to be on my knees and begging in the yard all day!”

The shackled man told me to give him everything, but that was easier said than done.

“If a price has to be paid, it should not be Cheongseon.”

“Then who?”

“Gongja Lee will want more of the new items here. “Last time I was looking around at a new property, there were some things I noticed.”

“Damn it!”

“The scientist will come with an answer this time too.”

“Are you a scientist again?”

The shackled man spoke calmly to the sighing Pungcheon religious leader.

“I will be a scientist until the end.”

* * *

As Seo Dae-ryong boasted, at least he was definitely good at practical work.

We have conducted a detailed investigation into Yangyang and Cheongseon. We investigated not only their homes and families, but also their martial arts level, personality, interpersonal relationships, and even their favorite foods.

“However, in the process of investigating Cheongseon, I discovered one strange thing.”

“What point?”

“Cheongseon met Saujong a few times.”

“Saujong?”

An unexpected name popped out.

“yes. Since we have no contact, I am reporting this just in case.”

Seo Dae-ryong knew that I also had a relationship with Ilhwa Geomzon, so he is reporting separately.

I thought of Saujong’s final days.

He fell under the spell of sedition and tried to kill Ilhwa Geomzon, but ended up dying. It was a death in which it was never revealed whose magic was used.

‘ah! That was Cheongseon’s magic of soul-searching!’

A conclusion that comes naturally.

“You two are dating each other!”

Seo Dae-ryong was surprised by my words. I wasn’t surprised that the two of them were dating, but I was surprised that I guessed that fact in one sitting.

“How did you know?”

Saujong liked Ilhwa Geomzon. What if you were caught in the process of dating Cheongseon? His death must have been the result of Cheongseon’s jealousy and anger. In particular, Cheongseon was young, and if her man loved an older woman, the wound to his pride would be so deep that it would pierce his body.

That’s not the only reason to judge that you’re dating.

The person who told me where Daebop Sim’s bodies were buried earlier, and the person who stole Neunghyu’s fan and put it there, must have been Cheongseon. These were things that could not be figured out or accomplished unless one was a disciple of the Subsoul Mazon. Additionally, if she wasn’t dating Saujong, there’s no way she would have leaked such important information.

Everything seemed to fit together, but I couldn’t tell Seo Dae-ryong this fact.

I suddenly got up from my seat.

“You seem to have an idea to change the situation again.”

“how did you know?”

“The look in your eyes has changed. Why are you looking for a genius? “Mr. Gakju is a genius.”

“I’m not a genius. It’s just a matter of being petty and trying not to miss out on the benefits. We need someone who knows how to use a big head, not one like this. “There is a big difference between having such a person in an organization and not having one.”

“I don’t know, but anyway, you’re amazing.”

“I don’t know what I don’t know. I found out thanks to your research. “Even if I find a genius, I won’t exchange you for that person.”

“I guess so. You’ll have both anyway. But where are you going?”

I was already walking out of the office.

‘Get sick of it!’

This too was something I couldn’t tell him.

* * *

That’s how I met the leader of Pungcheon.

His residence was the scene of an incident, and as a member of the Netherworld, I had an official reason to come and go at any time.

“Welcome.”

“how are you?”

“I enjoyed reading the material you sent me. “Thank you.”

“you’re welcome.”

While exchanging greetings with him, I glanced at the shackled man.

He lowered his head and didn’t look at me, but every time I see him, I get the feeling that our relationship isn’t just passing by like this.

My eyes turned to the head of Pungcheon Bridge again.

“Have you found a way to enter the fight for Seo Hwan-jin’s successor?”

“Not yet.”

“You must hurry. “The Magons will soon intervene and select a successor.”

“As you know, I am shackled here just like that man. “It’s not easy to even meet Seo Hwan-jin’s successors.”

I nodded in understanding.

“Which of the candidates would you like to have as your disciple?”

“This is Cheongseon.”

Judging by the fact that he wasn’t surprised by my answer, it looks like he and the shackled man have already come to that conclusion. Indeed, it was so.

“We also decided that Cheongseon was suitable.”

I say it’s because of Saujong, but why did that shackled man choose Cheongseon?

“But there’s no way to convince her.”

“What if I can make Cheongseon come directly to the religious leader?”

“What if you came to visit me?”

“I’m asking you to become my disciple. “I will cook rice and feed you.”

“If you do that, there’s nothing more I can ask for.”

“Please give me something new instead.”

The bright expression on Pungcheon’s face darkened again.

“You are so shameless.”

“It’s not shameless, it’s natural. “Getting people to do work based on friendship or loyalty without receiving proper compensation was something that was common in my father’s time.”

“I am also from that time.”

“You have to acknowledge that times have changed. I also know that I, the person sitting in front of me, am a person these days. “If you don’t like this, you should harden like a fossil and live only looking at the good things for yourself.”

Of course, because he did not want that kind of life, the Pungcheon religious leader hardened his impression.

I persuaded him in a gentle tone.

“This job involves dealing with young people, so please leave it to me. “I will deliver results that are worth the effort.”

“Think about it for a moment.”

“Of course.”

I pretended not to notice and looked at the new object, giving time for communication to pass between the shackled man and the Pungcheon religious leader.

Eventually, the leader of Pungcheon Church spoke to me.

“Okay, I’ll accept your offer.”

Although he looked disapproving, he seemed to have been persuaded by the shackled man in the end.

“She even came to me and asked me to accept her as a disciple. “It is the leader’s ability to elevate her to the position of Majon.”

“If I still need help then, I’ll come back and ask for supplies. Just take it all now!”

“I wish I had the ability to do that. “For me and for the leader.”

I got up from my seat. I politely gave a quick glance to the shackled man to the leader of Pungcheon Church and left.

That’s how I went to find one person.

The person who held the key to this incident was Sau Jong.