Chapter 121: How Easily One Forgets
Chapter 121: How Easily One Forgets
Lee An and I pressed on with our journey.
Our destination was the Ghost Gate, the home of Gwi Ryeongja’s family. Since there was still plenty of time before the wedding, we took our leisure, enjoying the sights and traveling at a relaxed pace.
We encountered all sorts of people along the way. There was a lecher who targeted her, a naive young master who claimed he would give his life for her after falling in love at first sight, and even a wealthy old man who brought piles of gold to propose. The lecher ended up dead, the young master ended up in tears, and the old man was thoroughly humiliated.
Meeting such a variety of people was a fresh experience, but unexpectedly, what Lee An enjoyed even more was taking in the magnificent scenery and savoring the local cuisine. Even if the people were exhausting, everything she saw in the Central Plains—her first time visiting—seemed new and wondrous.
She tried her best to commit every moment to memory, like someone who believed she would never be able to visit this place again. She even went as far as writing down the events of our journey in a journal.
“This dish is truly delicious. You should try some, Young Master.”
“I prefer this one.”
“That looks far too spicy. If you keep eating like that, you’ll ruin your stomach.”
“You wouldn't last a day in Sichuan.”
“Still, I’d like to try authentic Sichuan cuisine at least once.”
By now, she didn't care about the gazes of those around her. People still stole glances at her beauty, but since we ignored them, they became as good as invisible.
“But Young Master, is it really okay for us to be playing around like this?”
“Why wouldn't it be?”
“The First Young Master must be working himself to the bone right now to bring the Demon Lords to his side.”
“Probably.”
“What if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon joins hands with him again?”
“Let him. Think of how much fun it’ll be to win him back to our side afterward.”
“You’re so carefree it makes me anxious.”
“Don’t be. If I’m destined to be the successor, I’ll get there even if I take the long way around. If I’m not, I wouldn't become it even if I met the Demon Lords every single day. Besides, I’m doing something much more important right now than winning over Demon Lords.”
“What’s that?”
“Feeding the fish I’ve already caught.”
She pointed at herself, and I nodded.
How easily people err. How quickly they forget that if they hadn't caught the first fish, they wouldn't even have the chance to cast for a new one. How easily they take someone’s kindness for granted. Where could one even begin to compare the gratitude owed to someone who allowed themselves to be caught first and stayed faithfully by one's side?
She smiled brightly.
“Well, this fish has been eating very well lately.”
“So don’t go complaining later! Don't say I didn't give you enough affection or trust!”
“In that case, order me one more of those!”
“Order everything next to it, too!”
Of course, we didn't neglect our martial arts training during the trip.
Sprinting, leaping, and sparring—aside from the time spent eating and enjoying the scenery, we devoted every spare moment to training.
Lately, I spent every available second ruminating on the essence of martial arts left behind by the Mansa Sect Leader.
That realization, coupled with the Twelve-Star Great Achievement of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique, was giving me a certain restless itch. Knowing that this kind of restlessness always preceded a breakthrough, I didn't neglect my training for even a second.
Lee An was just as devoted. Especially since her Conception and Governing Vessels had been opened, she was nearing the end of the Eighth-Star stage of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique. With just a little more effort, she would reach the Ninth-Star stage.
Along with sword training, we never skipped Lightness Skill practice.
“Aaaaaah!”
Lee An still screamed as she plummeted from the cliffs, but her movements were different than before. Her flailing limbs now moved with practiced composure.
At the final moment, she twisted her body mid-air and landed on the ground. Though she staggered and fell forward, she had successfully descended the cliff on her own.
“I did it!”
She jumped up and down with joy.
I followed her down, landing lightly beside her. She looked startled when I descended the final stretch by walking through the air as if stepping on invisible stairs.
“I’ve improved a bit myself after jumping down after you so many times.”
“Are you really going to discourage me like this? I went through all that trouble to get down, and you just do that?”
“I’m only human; I want to show off and brag too, you know.”
“You’re plenty impressive even without showing off.”
“Ah, I want to keep showing off just so I can keep hearing you say that.”
“Go ahead, I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face.”
Despite being so devoted to me, she was someone who loved to have fun—cheerful, bright, intelligent, and someone who valued her personal happiness. That was why I was even more grateful for her and liked her all the more.
Lee An drew her sword.
“Now, you have to pay the praise tax. Please, one bout.”
I fought a rough round with her.
I intentionally fought while ascending the cliffside using Lightness Skills. Sword Qi whistled through the air, and we kicked off the cliff face to soar while dodging strikes.
She felt the brink of death several times. She would fall from the cliff only to scramble back up, all while Sword Qi chased her heels. Dodging the energy by a hair’s breadth, she released her own Sword Qi and fought to regain her footing on the precipice.
It was a battle between true masters. Although I had set the stage and guided her, she handled it brilliantly. I could feel her skill sharpening. I, too, gained insights while teaching her.
We ended the fight only when we stood atop the cliff once more.
“The movement of my True Qi and the power of my forms have changed since my meridians were opened.”
“You know this is the most important period, right?”
“I know.”
Her eyes were full of determination. She loved the scenery and the food, but she was also a born martial artist. Nothing could compare to the joy of the moment her martial arts grew.
“You’re doing well.”
“With a master like you, how could I not?”
Her eyes were filled with gratitude and respect as she looked at me.
“You said you wanted to see the wedding? Once we cross that mountain over there, we’ll be at our destination.”
“But why are you debating whether or not to stop the wedding?”
“I was asked... to stop it.”
“By whom?”
“Someone. Someone I owe a great debt to.”
I could explain everything else, but this was a difficult part to put into words.
In truth, I had told him coldly to go ahead and get married and live a hellish life again, but he was still on my mind.
If it hadn't been for Gwi Ryeongja, I wouldn't have been able to regress. I understood why he betrayed me to take that path for himself.
The chance to return to the past—how could any human resist that temptation? Perhaps the reason he wanted to return, even if it meant betraying me, was to avoid that very marriage.
I would make the final decision after meeting him, but if possible, I intended to stop the wedding for him. He had been that desperate, after all.
“Is he someone who loves the woman he’s marrying?”
“I doubt it.”
They were likely the worst of enemies. Gwi Ryeongja had described his married life as a living hell.
“Besides the wedding, there’s someone else I want to see.”
Seo Jin.
My only friend during my days as a ronin. If she, Gwi Ryeongja’s younger sister, hadn't told me about the Great Regression Art, I would never have known the truth.
“Well, let’s go for now.”
I threw myself off the cliff. I heard Lee An’s shout from behind me.
“I’m someone who’s naturally afraid of heights! You can’t just jump off like that!”
Despite her words, Lee An didn't hesitate to throw herself after me.
*
Night deepened at the Ghost Gate.
Since becoming the successor of the Ghost Gate, Gwi Ryeongja Seo Gong had become so busy that he lacked even enough time to sleep.
During the day, he had to learn the Secret Ghost Arts passed down only to the successor, and at night, he had to research the Great Regression Art. As it had been the family’s long-standing ambition, there were over a thousand volumes of records passed down through generations.
Tonight, he was once again reading late into the hour.
Then, a familiar voice came from behind him.
“If you had put this much effort into learning swordsmanship, you would have become the world’s greatest swordsman.”
Gwi Ryeongja replied without taking his eyes off the book.
“If you had spent the time you use for meddling on your swordsmanship, you would have been the one at the top.”
The person who entered the room was his younger sister, Seo Jin.
“You’ll get sick if you overdo it. If you collapse, Brother, all that work falls to me.”
“Don’t worry. I made a promise to the ghosts. They won’t take me until I finish this research.”
“The ghosts I met didn't say anything like that.”
Only then did Gwi Ryeongja look away from the book and turn toward her.
“Ugh, Brother, your face is already ugly enough, but it’s even worse now because you’re tired.”
“Don’t I look decent enough?”
“Only a mirror would tolerate such a delusion, Brother.”
Gwi Ryeongja laughed out loud. In his repetitive daily life, his sister was the only one who gave him room to breathe.
Seo Jin placed the documents she had brought on the desk.
“Here. I’ve organized everything you asked for.”
“Good work.”
“It was hard work. I’m not a genius like you, Brother. I have to look at things five times for every one time you do. Why is this so pointlessly difficult? It’s really exhausting.”
“I know, I know.”
Gwi Ryeongja felt sorry for his sister. She was spending her youth buried in research.
She was beautiful, and more than anything, she had a refreshing personality. She would have been popular if she went out, but lately, she was cooped up in the research lab.
Seo Jin brought up a topic she had never mentioned before.
“Brother, do you really believe the Great Regression Art is possible?”
“I do.”
Gwi Ryeongja answered without hesitation.
“Even though it goes against the Heavenly Principle?”
“Even so, I believe it.”
How could Gwi Ryeongja not know why his sister was asking this?
“It’s hard, isn't it?”
“It’s just frustrating. If we keep researching like this and pass it on to our children… our children will spend their whole lives trapped in this lab too, won’t they?”
“I will definitely succeed in my generation.”
“If you’re going to do it, please do it before I get any older. Otherwise…”
Gwi Ryeongja could feel it. His sister was reaching her limit. She was naturally an active person. Though she was following their father’s orders out of necessity, there was no telling how much longer she could hold out.
Seo Jin, who was about to turn and leave, stopped at the door.
“Fine, let’s say the Great Regression Art is possible, like you say. Then what? Once you go to the past? What are you going to do once you return? Are you going to shut yourself away and research again? Since you achieved regression, will you research reincarnation next?”
“...!”
“If that’s not what you had in mind, but something else… Brother, aren't we living the wrong lives right now? Shouldn't we be doing that thing right now? The life you want to live after you go back—shouldn't you be living that life now?”
Gwi Ryeongja couldn't say a word.
He had much to say, but Seo Jin didn't press him any further.
“Go to sleep early. Your face really looks terrible.”
As she left the lab, Gwi Ryeongja leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
His sister was right. If he lived his current life to the fullest, there would be no reason to go back. But achieving the Great Regression Art was the family’s long-standing ambition. As the successor, it was an inescapable fate.
Just then, an attendant arrived with welcome news. The person he had been waiting for so long would arrive tomorrow.
*
Lee An and I arrived at an inn in the village where the Ghost Gate was located.
Lee An had her mask tucked into her waist and wore a veil that left only her eyes exposed.
After securing a room with two beds, we ordered a meal.
Whenever we stayed at an inn during our travels, we shared a room like this. Even when I told her to sleep separately if it was uncomfortable, Lee An actually preferred it. Her reason was that it was fun to talk about this and that before falling asleep.
We were eating on the first floor of the inn.
The customers around us were talking about the news of Gwi Ryeongja’s wedding. It seemed the wedding was the talk of the town lately.
“I didn't expect the Ghost Gate to become in-laws with the Im Clan Sword Sect.”
“I was surprised too. Hasn't the Im Clan Sword Sect traditionally married into other sword houses?”
“I heard Miss Im persuaded her father.”
“A union between the Ghost Gate and a sword house—how interesting.”
“Ah, isn't that the successor of the Ghost Gate over there?”
Lee An and I followed their gaze outside.
A man appeared on the street. My heart surged when I saw him. It was the young Gwi Ryeongja. Since I had known him since his middle age, all the features of that face were still there.
‘Good to see you, Gwi Ryeongja.’
In my life before regression, I had only had a few brief encounters with him, but they were meetings that spanned decades at the most crucial moments. The hardships of gathering materials for the Great Regression Art naturally came to mind.
Gwi Ryeongja was looking toward the other end of the street as if waiting for someone.
A moment later, five or six people arrived on horseback. When the woman leading them dismounted, the others followed suit. From the look of it, they were martial artists escorting her.
Gwi Ryeongja ran toward her.
“Miss Im!”
She was none other than Gwi Ryeongja’s fiancée, Im Hyang.
“Young Master? Why are you here?”
“I came out to meet you after hearing the news of your arrival.”
Honey practically dripped from Gwi Ryeongja’s eyes as he looked at her.
“Thank you for accepting my proposal this time.”
“It was a decision I made because I believe in you, Young Master.”
“And your father?”
“He gave his permission, but… I think he still needs a little more time.”
“I will definitely change his mind.”
Gwi Ryeongja spoke loudly, heedless of the gazes of those around him.
“I will give my all to make you happy. No one will be able to stop my feelings for you.”
I watched the scene, completely stunned.
‘What the hell? You… you actually loved your wife this much?’