Regressor Takes Everything

Zhao Xinku, the Lord of Cheonmu Palace.

Many rumors circulated about him, who would later become a tycoon who would rule China. He was an orphan named Cheon-Ae, whom Baekcheon Geom-ju, who was the lord of Cheonmu Palace in the past, suddenly introduced as a disciple one day.

In addition, since he graduated in the shortest period of time after entering Cheonmu Palace and inherited the position of head, rumors couldn't help but spread.

‘The son of a high-ranking executive. The son or grandson of the Swords Master. Descendants of dead friends, etc… I brought and pasted everything that could be brought and pasted.’

Various speculations and stories circulated, but nothing was revealed in the end. The two people involved did not talk about the past, and those who tried to find out either quit due to external pressure or suddenly disappeared one day.

That was why Zhao Xinku's past was like an injustice to him. Kang Yoo-sik was digging through Zhao Xinku's head to find the clue. The stems of the black lotus that bloomed on the mandala were entangled all over the body, and the eyes of Xinku, who lay on the floor, were slightly slanted.

“Ugh….” There came a form of strong resistance to recalling memories of the past. Considering that he was an A-class hunter, he had considerable mental strength, but it seemed that he did not want to recall memories of the past.

‘It's hard to break through the front… After all, should I take a detour?’

He wondered if it would be possible to peek into the memory because the Black Lotus flower was very versatile, but it seemed quite too tricky. Kang Yoo-sik, who decided to run himself, immediately turned the effect of the Black Lotus flower in a different direction.

The hidden room in the basement of Sararak Taeheomun turned into a clearing in the forest, and a faint sense of alienation hung over Kang Yoo-sik's body.

“Is it okay?”

It was just a simple application, but one couldn’t help but be nervous as they would have to completely fool the A-class hunter. And Kang Yoo-sik, who meticulously reproduced his smell, caught his breath and sat down in a suitable place. From there, he slightly released the Black Lotus flower that was holding Zhao Xinku’s consciousness.

“…Whoops!”

Drenched in cold sweat, Zhao Xinku stood up as if he were about to jump out. He looked around with trembling eyes at the surrounding scenery that seemed to be a forest, and soon found Kang Yoo-sik and opened his eyes wide.

“S-Master….” Even though they only made eye contact, their expression turned white. Kang Yoo-sik exclaimed in delight at the reaction that he did not feel a sense of difference in the scenery of the forest or his own appearance transformed into the Baekcheon Sword Master.

‘This is done…!’

If you hadn’t noticed that it was fake, it would be easy from here on out. Kang Yoo-sik, who had the Baekcheon Sword Master's figure overlaid on him, asked in a dry, altered voice while sitting on the floor. “Did you have an affair?”

“That, that… … I am… … .” Zhao Xinku panicked, unable to understand whether it was a dream or reality. Kang Yoo-sik recalled the character of Baekcheon Sword Master, whom he had observed tirelessly in the past.

‘It is indifferent to everything and moves according to principles.’

So, shouldn’t someone immediately cut off the head of Zhao Xinku?

“Tell me.”

“….”

“What was the reason for your affair?” Zhao Xinku then bit his lip at Kang Yoo-sik’s question. If he had intended to slit his own throat here, he would have been more comfortable thinking that it was a dream.

‘Why….’

However, the Master of the Sword asked himself the reason for it. It was not a ruthless figure that hated affairs known to the world, but a figure that did not understand and was puzzled by the choice itself. That was the true Baekcheon Sword Master, and the true face of a master who only knew himself in this world.

"I am… I couldn't forget it.” Zhao Xinku, who came to believe that the Hundred Thousand Blades in front of him was real, answered slowly with an expression that seemed to put everything down.

“The sight of the brothers screaming and dying as their bodies were horribly twisted, that terrible scene comes to mind as vividly as if it were yesterday.”

“… … .”

“Master. You told me that day. Don't get caught up in the past, raise your sword and walk a new path.” Zhao Xinku, who looked at the Sword Master, made a futile expression. “But in this world, there is no way to walk with just one sword… There are enemies that cannot be defeated with swords alone. How can you not know that?”

A benefactor who saved his life, taught him the sword, and made a new way to live. The fact that he complained to such a benefactor made Zhao Xinku feel disgusted with himself, and Kang Yoo-sik, who read his feelings, made a puzzled expression himself. ‘Why are you crying after saying the right words?’

If everything in the world was solved only with the sword, society would have long been dominated by high-ranking hunters.

This was also the case with Baekcheon Sword Master, who is said to be the strongest of mankind, and it was also a proven fact before returning. It was because he was the one who cut off the life of Baekcheon Sword Master, who was pioneering the world with one sword.

“If such an enemy exists, just swing it until you can cut it down.”

However, since he was currently playing Baekcheon Sword Master, Kang Yoo-sik responded bluntly considering his character. And, as if expecting such an answer, Zhao Xinku put on a bitter expression. “I thought Master would say that. Unlike me, he's capable enough….”

Zhao Xinku muttered calmly and fell to his knees as it were. “Until today, when I escaped from Heaven’s Experimental Building and ascended to the position of Lord Cheonmu … … I was able to survive because of Master's mercy.”

Kang Yoo-sik's eyes widened at this. “You gave me a chance to make things right… … It seems that this body, which fell due to an affair, could not be helped.”

Zhao Xinku smiled bitterly and quietly stared at Yoo-sik. “The life and grace you gave me. Please pick it up yourself.”

“….” Kang Yoo-sik quietly looked at Zhao Xinku, who was determined. He had just heard everything he needed to hear in the conversation.

Kang Yoo-sik, who decided to end this play, pulled out a sword made of illusions from his waist. “How did you get away with it? To that question, you answered that you lacked strength.”

“….”

“But that is the wrong answer.” Seeing Zhao Xinku looking at him with a puzzled look on his face, Kang Yoo-sik moved in front of him. “You were trying to find an easy way.”

“That, like that… I am… .”

“Breaking oaths, betraying favors, and refusing favors, he chose the easier path.”

Xinku bit his lip at Kang Yoo-sik’s criticism. The response that he couldn't help rose to his throat, but for some reason, no words came out.

“Tell me again. Was it really a road that couldn't be walked with a sword?”

“… … .” Xinku bowed his head at the sword aimed at the back of his neck. He didn’t know how to answer.

Kang Yoo-sik looked down quietly, and Xinku grabbed his knee tightly. “… … Yes

“Do you really think so?”

"That's right. I… And Master won't be able to deal with them with just a sword!”

At Zhao Xinku’s confident answer, Kang Yoo-sik calmly muttered with a satisfied expression inwardly. “Then find it.”

“… … Yes?"

Kang Yoo-sik quietly stared at Zhao Xinku looking up at him with a surprised expression. “I told you not to go on an affair, I never said to only walk the path of the sword.”

“Ha, but if you put it that way… … .”

“Can you say no?”

“… … .” Seeing Zhao Shinku at a loss for words, Kang Yoo-sik put the sword back in. “Find it. And if I can't find it and go back to the affair again, then I will take your head.”

“Master… … .”

“So get up now.”

At the same time as he said that, Kang Yoo-sik quickly subdued Shinku Zhao's consciousness using the Black Lotus flower. Since he was already physically and mentally exhausted, he was subdued in a blink of an eye, and Kang Yoo-sik, who finished the process, released the flower that was hung on his surroundings and body.

“Whoa….” Kang Yoo-sik, who had consumed a lot of his mana, took a deep breath and looked at his entrance. "Come on in."

Tao Fei and Lao Chang, who were waiting outside, came inside at Kang Yoo-sik’s call. “Are you done?”

"Yes. It's almost over.”

"Therefore… … Do you think you've figured out something?"

At Tao Fei's question, Kang Yoo-sik smiled slightly. “We need to find out about that now. Move from place to place. Lord Ihwa Dan.”

"Yes." After handing over the fainted Zhao Xinku to Lao Chang, Kang Yoo-sik moved to a room in the basement. Then he put Zhao Xinku on the bed and let go of his consciousness naturally.

“… … .” Unlike before, when he got up in a hurry, Zhao Xinku slowly got up and looked around.

“Taeheomunju and Ihwa Danju….”

Seeing the faces of the two, Xinku looked at Kang Yoo-sik, who was sitting across from him. “As far as I know, there must have been no cooperative relationship between Taeheomun and the Guild…. Is that what you did?”

At Zhao Xinku's question, Kang Yoo-sik calmly nodded. "Yes. The purpose was the same, so I suggested that we join forces.”

“… … For what purpose?”

“To defeat the Heaven’s Army.”

Kang Yoo-sik’s answer made Zhao Xinku’s eyes shake. He expected it to a certain extent, but seeing him say it himself made it feel different.

‘Awesome…’

It was never easy to unite large groups such as Taeheomun and guilds just because they had the same purpose. In particular, since the opponent was the Heaven’s Army that controlled the whole of China, there was only one reason why this was possible.

‘Does the priest have enough power to unite them?'

Perhaps, even if they wanted to, they would not have even discovered that they were fighting against the Heaven’s Army. It was the kind of informational power that could not simply be imagined, alongside strong presence that could unite them.

‘Is this a new path….’

He didn’t know if it was just a dream, but he didn’t think it had appeared without meaning.

“….What are you going to do with me?”

“What would you like me to do?”

In response to Kang Yoo-sik’s question, Zhao Xinku stayed silent for a while. "I… It was an experiment of an enhanced human conducted by the Heavenly Army in the past.”

Because it was vaguely expected, Kang Yoo-sik listened calmly, while Tao Fei and Lao Chang, who stood behind him, looked surprised. “A human experiment….”

“I really didn’t think it would have progressed….” Rumors and stories like that had already been circulating, but he couldn’t believe it has been happening for decades. “The test subjects consisted of Black Sea children whose identities were not registered with the state, and the main content was gene transplantation of high-ranking hunters. The goal was mass production of high-ranking hunters.”

A long-running study in the underworld, it was once known to be effective.

However, in reality, it was only possible because those who originally had excellent qualities endured the side effects and survived. It was concluded that gene transplantation itself was ineffective, and later it was possible to measure talent more precisely by applying the experimental results at that time.

‘I guess that was a popular time.'

Kang Yoo-sik, who clearly understood why Zhao Xinku was so hostile to the Heavenly Army, looked at him. “Then the brother-in-law joined hands with them for revenge?”

“It was. It’s the kind of power that can be considered as a country itself. If it wasn't for hiding inside them, I don't think I'd ever be able to deal with them.”

Muttering bitterly, Zhao Xinku looked at Kang Yoo-sik. “However, the end result is this. If it weren't for you, I would have died many times already.”

“I am not dead.” "

“Right. Because you gave me a chance.” Zhao Xinku got up from bed and stood in front of Kang Yoo-sik. Tao Fei and Lao Chang were so nervous that they could react at any time, and Kang Yoo-sik looked at him calmly.

“I will pay the price for breaking my oath myself after everything is over. So, priest… … No, Kang Yoo-sik.” Zhao Xinku, who slowly lowered his body, knelt down as it was and lowered his head. "{lease… … Give me a chance.”

Tao Fei and Lao Chang looked at each other in surprise at Zhao Xinku’s sincere request, while Kang Yoo-sik stared at them calmly. He felt a little uneasy, but the atmosphere was ripe and he had been prepared, like he wanted.

Kang Yoo-sik, who had calmed himself down, got down on one knee and held Zhao Xinku by the shoulder. “Keep your head up.”

“… … .”

"Do it. This will only embarrass this priest.”

“I can no longer say that I am his disciple once I have betrayed Master. So please don’t tell me to.”

Of course, he intended to. Whether it was the death penalty or the priest, it felt a little awkward to openly command, even if one could become affectionate when in a relationship. After exchanging a few words out of etiquette, Kang Yoo-sik let out a sigh as if he couldn't help it. “If the Lord of Cheonmu wishes, I will. However, please raise your head first.”

With that, Kang Yoo-sik smiled and held his shoulder firmly. “I can’t talk about the future, can I?”

Only then did Xinku raise his head in surprise, and Yoo-sik looked at him still. “It’s a bit awkward for me to give you a chance and tell you what to do, but… I will dare to say it though.”

Kang Yoo-sik took a deep breath and put on a confident expression. “The Heaven’s Army will collapse, and its ringleaders will kneel before our eyes. And the opportunity I give to the Lord of Cheonmu … .”

He looked at Zhao Xinku. “This is your chance to slit his throat.”

At Kang Yoo-shik's confident declaration, Zhao Xinku trembled faintly, and soon lowered his head once more. "Thank you… … !”

[You have satisfied the debt relationship conditions]

[Confirms the registration of the debtor ‘Zhao Xinku’ and determines the debt grade as A.]

With this, he had gotten the entire Cheonmu Palace in addition to the White Lotus Guild. Even just bringing these three together would have a tremendous effect.

‘Before the return, Zhao Xinku could have dealt with the Heaven’s Army alone.'

Of course, looking at his actions at that time, it seems that his eyes were blinded by immortality and, in doing so, became a half-time equivalent of the Army, but at least this time, as long as he was alive, that would not happen.

Satisfied, Kang Yoo-sik raised Zhao Xinku from his knees. "Now, let’s stop talking about depressing things and talk about constructive things from now on.”

“By constructive…?”

Seeing Zhao Xinku with a puzzled expression on his face, Kang Yoo-sik raised the corner of his mouth. “Making the Great Law of Immortality.”