Absolute Regression

Episode 292 If only there were guests like this.

The bias was lucky.

I came by coach from Gangseo to Hubuk and couldn’t catch a carriage for the second day.

However, he happened to catch a carriage heading to Gangseo.

The place that rented carriages hired coachmen to do the work, and took a portion of the money that the coachmen received.

Pyeonjung asked the manager who rented the carriage.

“Where are you going, guest?”

“To the Gangseo branch of the Heavenly Demon Church.”

Pyeonjung lowered his voice and asked softly.

“Are you by any chance a demon?”

“On the outside, it didn’t seem like it.”

Even so, I was nervous and scared of the bias. Could it be that there were only one or two coachmen who died after being caught up in a fight between the Sapains and the Demons?

Pyeonjung was cleaning the carriage and waiting, and soon a guest arrived. He was a young and handsome man.

“It’s called bias. “I will take good care of you.”

“Please take care of me. “It’s not that urgent, so there’s no need to rush.”

“All right.”

I could tell the bias by looking at the young man’s greeting.

‘It’s not Mine.’

I’ve ridden several horsemen so far, but I’ve never seen one this polite.

Of course, it was an illusion of bias. Because the opponent was the most famous demon among demons. The young man was a sword dance performer.

The sword dance is about renting a carriage and going to Gangseo. While practicing Cheonma Self Defense on a carriage, if you find a place with a nice view, stop and look around. That’s how I plan to go leisurely and rest.

“Okay then, let’s go.”

And so the carriage set off.

When Pyeonjung, who had been running for a while, glanced back through the window connected to the coach seat, Geommugeuk had his eyes closed. I couldn’t tell if I was sleeping or lost in thought.

‘Yes, this kind of customer is the best.’

The sword dance on the carriage was practicing the Cheonma Defense technique. When I moved like this, I was able to concentrate better. The sound of the wind blowing past the carriage, the sound of birds chirping from afar. The noise of passers-by talking. Sometimes these sounds helped me focus even more.

Then, when I get tired of training, I look at the scenery outside the window like I do now.

‘This is rest.’

The rest that Ian mentioned was a brief rest while learning the Heavenly Demon Defense Technique, but in his current situation, such a rest was a luxury.

Geommugeuk, who was looking at the scenery outside, closed his eyes again.

I began to recite the very boring verses of the Heavenly Demon Tiger God with all my heart as if I was learning them for the first time. Another drop of water was added to the bucket.

* * *

That evening, the carriage stopped at a guesthouse. The resting places for each coachman were different, but they had one thing in common.

“I heard that the guesthouse where the coachmen rest is a place with good food.”

“you’re right. “We go so often that we know which restaurants are delicious.”

So the two people entered the guesthouse.

“Then rest.”

“Let’s eat together.”

“I am okay.”

The rule was that the coachman ate separately from the guests. There were customers who bought us food, but most of us ate and slept on our own until departure.

“That’s because I don’t want to eat alone. let’s do it together.”

We sat down together, pretending that our biases could not be overcome. If you get at least one meal, you can save a lot of money, so it is a good thing from the point of view of convenience.

“You know it well, so please recommend it. “What is the best dish in this house?”

Pyeonjung recommended several dishes. Geommugeuk ordered all the dishes he mentioned.

“Now, I’m hungry. Let’s eat a lot.”

The sword dance was the coachman’s best guest.

I invited him to eat with me, sat him down, and didn’t ask him questions or nag him.

There are people like that. People who give all kinds of condescension while doing favors, people who brag about themselves to the point that it hurts your ears, even people who ask about the coachman’s income and advise him that he should live a different life.

But Geommugeuk just stared blankly out of the guest room.

Rather, I wanted to talk to him.

Sohyeop asks, “What are you doing? Why are you going to the Magyo branch?”

Of course, there was no question of bias. Because I’m old enough to know that nothing good will come of being involved with the martial arts people.

After a while, the food was served and Geomukgeuk also ordered drinks.

I also poured drinks for Pyeonjung.

“I have to drive the carriage, so I’ll just have one drink.”

Pyeonjung felt like he was really alive after drinking alcohol and eating delicious food for the first time in a long time. These days, I barely managed to satisfy my hunger by saving money for meetings.

‘Really, if I had customers like this, being a coachman would be a good job.’

Rather than a lucky day like today, the coachman’s life was a series of anxious days.

I was embarrassed to not say anything when he even bought me food, so I asked him a word cautiously.

“Are you new to Gangseo?”

“no.”

“I see.”

The words rose up in my throat as to why I was going to the Demonic Church branch, but I held them back.

“I really enjoyed the meal.”

Geommugeuk didn’t bother to talk to him because he was afraid he would be uncomfortable. I had enough experience while living as a ronin. In times like this, just staying quiet is for the other person’s benefit.

After finishing the meal, Geommugeuk, who was going up to the guest room, asked Pyeonjung.

“Why aren’t you going?”

“I can sleep in the carriage. “Go and sleep comfortably.”

Pyeonjung usually took a nap in the carriage. I had to save every penny.

Geommugeuk rented a room for him with his own money.

“I’m fine.”

“I want to ride in a carriage driven by someone who sleeps well.”

Saying this, I couldn’t refuse again. Really, if only I had guests like this!

When I entered the guest room, I felt good.

‘How long has it been since you slept in bed?’

I slept very comfortably that day. Even the Murim Lord was not envious.

The favor of the sword dance continued the next day.

He suggested we eat together and gave us a room. He waved his hand saying it was okay, but he argued that taking care of the person holding the reins was better for his own safety.

In the end, we ate together and slept in a nice bed.

On the first day, I ate and slept happily, but on the second day, while I was eating, I thought of my wife and children. It was because it was a dish that children liked. First, it was a dish I bought for my birthday last year. Was it the year before last?

If only I could pack this. I really wanted to cum if I could.

Then he looked up and saw Geommugeuk looking at him. As if reading my mind, he asked me if I had any children.

“Do you have any children?”

“There are two.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m seven or nine years old.”

“I’m sure you’d like to see it.”

Pyunjung grinned and nodded. Do you just want to see it? Sometimes, I feel the urge to drive the carriage and run right away.

And that night, the children appeared in my dream.

* * *

Sometimes the sword dance had the carriage stopped in a place with a nice view.

The sun was setting far beyond the river. The sight of the red sunset spreading across the sparkling river water was truly spectacular.

Geommugeuk folded his arms and looked at the figure in silence.

Thanks to this, I was able to look at the sunset for the first time in a long time. Come to think of it, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen something like this happen. I couldn’t even remember how long it had been.

When the sun went down, I was in a hurry to run the carriage with the mindset that I had to hurry and get to the guest house before it got dark. Rather, the sunset was a signal that made him anxious. I felt it again today. The sunset was so beautiful.

“My heart said that. You look tired, so get some rest. So I try to listen to my heart.”

“Oh, I see.”

I pretended to know, but Pyeonjung did not understand what was being said. Heart? What do you mean? It only gave rise to misunderstandings that he might be a person with a heartache.

I ran and ran like that, and it was a day before my destination.

Pyeonjung was caught by Geommugeuk while refunding the room he rented from the guesthouse owner and getting his money back. Geommugeuk happened to come out for some fresh air and saw it. I pretended not to see the sword dance and went out.

“ah!”

The bias was lamented. Considering the sincerity of the other person, it was something that should not have been done. Even if the other person understood, I felt so miserable.

The next day, Pyeonjung, who had been worried the entire time he was driving the carriage, approached Geommugeuk when the horses were resting for a while in the field.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“It’s okay.”

I could have just done this and moved on. But suddenly this thought occurred to me.

I thought it was cowardly to just say sorry to such a nice person and move on, even though I would have made excuses to someone with a bad temper because I was scared.

Okay, let’s at least make a good excuse.

“Last year, my second child suffered from a severe fever. At that time, I borrowed money to make medicine. “I was living on a tight budget, so I was in a hurry and borrowed money I shouldn’t have.”

“I see you rented Yeomwangchae.”

“you’re right.”

Pyeonjung sighed.

“I didn’t borrow much. I borrowed 10 nyang for treatment… but now, a year later, it’s 70 nyang. “Even though the interest I have paid so far is over 20 nyang.”

That was why he took a nap in the carriage. Because I had to pay the interest and feed my wife and children. But the debt continued to increase.

“It’s my fault. “I borrowed it in the first place even after hearing that the interest rate was so high.”

I had no regrets. If I hadn’t borrowed that money at that time, the second guy would have died or been crippled.

Then Geommugeuk spoke.

“How could that be Teacher Pyeon’s fault? “It is the fault of those who pay Yeomwangchae with interest that goes beyond common sense.”

Pyeonjung’s heart was moved when he heard the words “Teacher Pyeon.” Because no one has ever called the coachman this high.

And when I told them about borrowing money, everyone said it was their fault. Why did you borrow money there in the first place?

“What is the name of the place you borrowed money from?”

“It’s a place called Tongjeonso (通錢所).”

“Let’s stop by there.”

“It’s not possible. They are violent and ferocious people. I also heard rumors that some people are skilled in martial arts and some scary people are behind it. “Even though Yeomwangchae has been in the area for a very long time, they are still alive and well.”

Pyeonjung felt both hope that he might be able to escape this hell and fear that this good man might be killed by them.

Geommugeuk looked at him blankly and said.

“I think there’s some misunderstanding, but I’m going because I need money.”

For a moment, Pyunjung wondered whether he should believe this or not. You’re the one who spent so much money on the way, but you’re renting Yeomwangchae? suddenly?

“Let’s go.”

What should you do if a guest wants to leave? The carriage changed direction from where it was supposed to go.

* * *

Surprisingly, the sword dance that arrived at the power station actually borrowed money.

“How much can you lend me?”

Zhou Yang, the person in charge of lending money, looked at the up and down movements of the sword dance.

“We don’t often lend money to outsiders…”

He didn’t say it neatly, but trailed off. Lend meant to lend.

“Do you have collateral?”

“No. Should I entrust you with this sword?”

“How much does it cost to use a sword like that? “I don’t accept swords as collateral.”

Most of the swords that warriors wanted to deposit as collateral were poor quality. Could it be that there were one or two people who bought a cheap sword and pretended to be a famous sword?

“I will be sad if my sword is used.”

Zhou Yang looked at the sword. When I saw the sword with the blood-stained cloth wrapped around it, I couldn’t help but snort. You decorated it well to make it look presentable.

“If you don’t have collateral, you just need someone to guarantee it.”

At Jooyang’s words, Geommugeuk looked back at the group that had come with him.

“Could you please provide a guarantee?”

I was quite surprised by the bias. I wondered if he had taken the flea’s liver and brought it to ask for a warranty.

“I’m kidding. “My father said that guarantees are not even available to family members.”

Pyeonjung, who was nervous, breathed a sigh of relief.

“How much can you borrow without collateral or guarantee?”

“I can lend you up to ten nyang.”

“Okay, let’s borrow ten nyang.”

“Now, write down your personal information on this IOU and put your seal on it.”

I wrote down the sword dance as instructed and even took a hand seal. When I lent it, I did it conveniently and with a quick payment.

“If you don’t pay it back on time, interest will accrue. There are always people who complain about the high interest rates later on. “They are shameless people who come and borrow money and then say things like that.”

Pyeonjung lowered his head. Jooyang was telling me to listen to the bias.

At that time, Geommugeuk took the side of the people.

“If I were in a hurry, I would have borrowed money even at this high interest rate. “It is shameless to take advantage of the hearts of desperate people.”

For a moment, Jooyang’s expression hardened. But Zhou Yang, who was worn out, was not angry. This was because I knew better than anyone else what the fate of these slanderers would be.

‘You idiot. We’ll leave that aside later. I’ll show you what it’s like to not be able to repay money even if you want to.’

Jooyang checked the information written on the IOU.

“My hometown is Guangxi. You came from far away. I believe you wrote down the address correctly. Your father’s name is Geom Woojin, that’s a cool name. I don’t know if you know, but we have branches in each province. “I will check what you wrote and contact you soon.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll tell you in advance, don’t think about running away without paying back. My family has to pay for me. “I’m saying I’m going to visit your father.”

“My father has a lot of money.”

So I left there with some bias. There were many people with swords walking around the yard. It was a fairly large Yeomwangchae.

When I got out of there, I asked the question that I had been holding back.

“Why on earth did you come here?”

I was worried that there would be a stabbing attack. I was worried and excited.

I expected this small group to draw its sword, sweep them all away, and say, “I don’t have any debt from now on.” I felt selfish and snobbish, but honestly, I was like that.

“Didn’t you say you came to borrow money?”

“Are you here just to borrow ten nyang? “The small cooperative… doesn’t need that money?”

Considering the cost of the sword dance that I had experienced on my way here, I couldn’t understand why I had to borrow ten nyang.

“It’s absolutely necessary.”

It wasn’t just because of Yeomwangchae. The plan is to begin the inspection of secret activities in the Gangseo region from here. Because corruption is always related to money.

Behind the sword dance, two men followed from afar. It was a blatant follow-up, telling people not to do anything else because they were being watched.

“If you lend 10 nyang and use two people to monitor it, wouldn’t it be a loss?”

Geommugeuk asked back, showing the ten nyang in his palm.

“Isn’t this worth ten nyang?”

The bias exclaimed in exclamation. He realized what Geommugeuk meant.

Starting with these ten nyang, they will stick a pipe and suck your blood for the rest of your life. So the money borrowed now is not ten nyang. He borrowed hundreds or thousands of nyang. Just like what he is experiencing now.

“Let’s see how they get these ten nyang.”