Chapter 121: How Easily One Forgets

TL: FoodieMonster007

Lee Ahn and I continued our journey toward the Ghost Sect, the Ghostly Sage's family home. We still had time before the wedding, so we traveled at a leisurely pace, enjoying our time together.

We met many different people along the way. A lecher targeted Lee Ahn, a naive Young Lord swore he would die for her, and a rich old man proposed with a pile of gold. The lecher died, the Young Lord cried, and the old man left humiliated.

Meeting so many people was a new and interesting experience, but Lee Ahn unexpectedly enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and delicious local food even more. People could be tiresome, but since this was her first time seeing the Central Plains, everything must have seemed new to her.

She tried to commit every moment to memory, as if she would never return. She even kept a journal of our journey.

"This dish is really delicious. You should try some too, Young Master," Lee Ahn said.

"I prefer this one," I replied.

"But that one's so spicy! You'll ruin your stomach if you like spicy food too much."

"You wouldn't be able to live in Sichuan."

"Still, I'd like to try authentic Sichuan cuisine someday."

She no longer paid any mind to the stares around us. People still glanced at her beauty, but we ignored them, so it was as if they were not there.

"But, Young Master," Lee Ahn asked, "is it really okay for us to be relaxing like this?"

"Is there a reason it wouldn't be?"

"The First Young Lord is probably trying to win over the Demon Supremes right now."

"I suppose so."

"What if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon has joined hands with the First Young Lord again?"

"Let him. I hope he does. It'd be fun to bring him back again, wouldn't it?"

"You're so carefree it's making me anxious."

"Don't be anxious. If I'm destined to be the successor, I can take my time. If I'm not, meeting the Demon Supremes every day won't matter. Besides, we're doing something far more important right now, aren't we?"

"What's that?" she asked.

"Feeding the fish I've already caught."

Lee Ahn pointed a finger at herself, and I nodded.

How easily one makes mistakes. How easily one forgets that without the fish already caught, there is no chance to catch new ones. How easily one takes another's kindness for granted. Nothing could compare to the gratitude owed to the one who let herself be caught first and continues to stay.

She smiled. "The fish has been eating well lately."

"So don't complain later! Not about a lack of affection or a lack of trust!"

"In that case, order one more of that for me!"

"I'll order that and the one next to it!"

Of course, we never neglected our martial arts training. We ran, jumped, and dueled. Aside from eating and enjoying the scenery, we devoted all our time to training.

Lately, I had been contemplating the essence of the Myriad Evil Sect Leader's martial studies in my spare moments. That enlightenment, combined with my complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art's Twelfth Star, was tickling at something within me. I knew this kind of itch always led to growth, so I didn't neglect my training for even a moment.

Lee Ahn was also engrossed in her training. Since her Conception and Governing Vessels were opened, she had reached the final stages of the Soaring Sky Sword Art's eighth star. With a little more effort, she would reach the ninth.

She also never neglected her movement arts training.

"AAAAAAK!"

Lee Ahn screamed as she fell from the cliff, but her movements were different. Her once-flailing limbs now moved with calm purpose.

At the last moment, she twisted her body several times and landed on the ground. She staggered and fell forward but had successfully descended the cliff on her own.

"I did it!"

She jumped up and down with joy.

I followed her down and landed beside her. She startled when I walked through the air at the last moment, as if descending an invisible staircase.

"I've gotten a bit better too, after jumping down after you so many times," I said.

"Are you trying to deflate my ego? I went through all that trouble to get down, and you do this!"

"I'm human too. Don't I get to show off and brag a little?"

"You're amazing enough without having to show off."

"Ah, I want to keep showing off just to hear you say that again."

"Go ahead. I'll say it as many times as you want without getting tired."

She was this devoted to me, yet she also loved to have fun. She was cheerful, bright, sharp-witted, and valued her own life and happiness. That was why I was all the more grateful for her and fond of her.

Lee Ahn drew her sword. "Now, you owe me a compliment fee. I request a match."

We then had a fierce bout.

I deliberately used movement arts, fighting her as we flew up the cliff face. Sword qi flew through the air. We kicked off the cliff to ascend, dodging each other's attacks.

Lee Ahn felt like she was on the verge of death several times. She would fall, only to climb back up as sword qi flew at her. She narrowly dodged my attacks, unleashed her own, and continued to scale the cliff.

It was a battle of true masters. I set the stage and guided her, but she responded splendidly. I could feel her skills improving, and I learned things while teaching her.

We ended the fight once we stood atop the cliff again.

"After opening the Conception and Governing Vessels, the movement of my true qi and the power of my techniques have changed," she said.

"You know this is a crucial time, right?"

"I know."

Her eyes filled with determination. The scenery was nice and the food was delicious, but she was a natural-born martial artist. Nothing could compare to the joy of her martial arts growing stronger.

"You're doing well," I said.

"With you as my Master, how could I not?"

Her eyes were full of gratitude and respect as she looked at me.

"You said you wanted to see the wedding, right? The place we're headed is just over that mountain."

"But why are you debating whether to stop the wedding or not?" Lee Ahn asked.

"I was asked a favor. To stop the wedding."

"By whom?"

"Someone. A person who helped me greatly."

I could explain everything else, but this part was difficult.

In truth, I had coldly told him to get married and live that hellish life again, but I felt for him. If it weren't for the Ghostly Sage, I wouldn't have been able to regress. I understand why he betrayed me to try and go back himself. The chance to return to the past, how could any human resist such a temptation? Perhaps the reason he wanted to go back, even if it meant betraying me, was to avoid this very marriage. I'll make my final decision after meeting him, but I'm leaning toward stopping the wedding. He was that desperate.

"Is it someone who likes the woman getting married?"

"I doubt it."

There could be no greater enemy. The Ghostly Sage had described his married life as hell.

"And even if it weren't for the wedding, there's someone I want to see."

Seo Jin.

She was my only friend from my mercenary days. If his younger sister had not told me about the Great Regression Technique, I would have never known about it.

"Well, let's go."

I threw myself off the cliff.

Lee Ahn shouted from behind me. "I'm someone who's naturally afraid of heights! You can't just take off like that!"

But contrary to her words, Lee Ahn did not hesitate to throw herself off after me.

Night fell deep over the Ghost Sect. After becoming the successor, Ghostly Sage Seo Gong was so busy he barely had time to sleep.

During the day, he had to master the secret art of the Money Ghost, which was passed down only to the successor. At night, he had to research the Great Regression Technique. It was his family's long-cherished wish, and the materials passed down through generations numbered in the thousands of volumes.

Tonight, he was again reading late into the night.

A familiar voice came from behind him. "If you put this much effort into learning the sword, you would have become the world's number one swordsman."

The Ghostly Sage replied without looking up from his book. "If you spent the time you use to meddle on learning the sword, you would be number one."

His younger sister, Seo Jin, had entered the room.

"You'll get sick if you keep pushing yourself like this. If you collapse, all this work will fall to me."

"Don't worry. I made a promise with a ghost. It agreed not to take me until this research is finished."

"The ghost I met didn't say anything like that."

Only then did the Ghostly Sage look up from his book and turn to Seo Jin.

"Your already-ugly face has gotten even uglier from exhaustion," Seo Jin teased.

"Aren't I still pretty decent-looking?"

"Only a mirror would accept such a delusion."

The Ghostly Sage laughed out loud. In his repetitive daily life, his younger sister was the one person who gave him room to breathe.

Seo Jin placed the booklet she had brought onto the desk. "Here. I've organized everything you asked me to."

"You worked hard."

"Of course I worked hard. I'm not a genius like you. I have to read something five times for every one time you read it. Why is it all so needlessly difficult? It's really tough."

"I know, I know."

The Ghostly Sage felt sorry for his sister. She was spending the prime of her youth cooped up with research. She was good-looking and had a refreshing, straightforward personality. She was popular whenever she went out, but these days she was stuck in the research room.

Seo Jin brought up a topic she had never mentioned before. "Do you really believe the Great Regression Technique is possible?"

"I do," the Ghostly Sage answered without hesitation.

"Even though it goes against the heavens?"

"I still believe."

The Ghostly Sage knew exactly why his sister was asking this.

"It's hard, isn't it?" he asked gently.

"It's just frustrating. If we keep researching like this and pass it on to our children… will our children also be trapped in this research room for their entire lives?"

"I will definitely succeed in my generation."

"If you're going to do it, please do it before I get any older. Otherwise…"

The Ghostly Sage sensed it. His sister was reaching her limit. She had an active personality and was only reluctantly obeying their father's orders. There was no telling how much longer she could endure.

Seo Jin turned to leave but stopped at the door. "Fine, let's say the Great Regression Technique is possible, just like you say. So what? What if you go to the past? What will you do when you go back? Are you going to lock yourself up and research again? Since you've achieved regression, will you start researching reincarnation?"

"!"

"If you thought of something else instead… doesn't that mean we're living the wrong life? Shouldn't we be doing that thing right now? The life you want to live if you go back, shouldn't you be living it now?"

The Ghostly Sage could not say a word.

He had much to say, but Seo Jin did not press him any further. "Get some sleep. Your face really looks worn out."

As she left the research room, the Ghostly Sage sighed and leaned back in his chair.

His sister was right. If he lived his current life to the fullest, there would be no reason to go back. However, achieving the Great Regression Technique was his family's long-cherished wish. As the successor, it was a destiny he could not escape.

Just then, a servant delivered some welcome news. The person he had been so eagerly awaiting would arrive tomorrow.

Lee Ahn and I arrived at an inn in the village where the Ghost Sect was located. Lee Ahn had tied her mask at her waist and wore a veil that revealed only her eyes.

We got a room with two beds and ordered a meal. We always stayed together in one room when we traveled. Even when I asked if she was uncomfortable and offered to get a separate room, Lee Ahn preferred it. She said it was fun to talk before falling asleep.

Lee Ahn and I were eating on the first floor of the inn. The surrounding customers were all talking about the Ghostly Sage's wedding. It was clearly the talk of the town.

"I never thought the Ghost Sect would become in-laws with the Lin Family Sword Sect."

"I was surprised too. Hasn't the Lin Family Sword Sect always married into other sword families?"

"I heard Young Lady Lim persuaded her father."

"The union of the Ghost Sect and a sword family is quite an interesting development."

"Ah, isn't that the successor of the Ghost Sect over there?"

Lee Ahn and I followed their gazes outside.

A man appeared on the street. My heart stirred when I saw him. It was the Ghostly Sage in his youth. I had known him since he was middle-aged, and his younger features were all still there.

It's good to see you, Ghostly Sage.

In my life before regression, I had only met him a few times, but those encounters spanned decades at the most crucial moments. The past hardships of gathering materials for the grand technique automatically came to mind.

The Ghostly Sage looked toward the other side of the street, as if waiting for someone. A moment later, five or six people arrived on horseback. When the woman at the front dismounted, the others followed. They appeared to be martial artists escorting her.

The Ghostly Sage ran toward her. "Young Lady Lim!"

She was Lim Hyang, the Ghostly Sage's fiancée.

"Young Lord? Why are you here?"

"I heard you were coming, Young Lady, so I came out to meet you."

Honey seemed to drip from the Ghostly Sage's eyes as he looked at her.

"Thank you for accepting my proposal."

"It was a decision I made because I trust you, Young Lord."

"What about your father?"

"He gave his permission… but I think he still needs a little more time."

"I will definitely change your father's mind."

The Ghostly Sage declared loudly, ignoring the stares of the people around them. "I will devote my entire being to making you happy. No one will be able to stop my feelings for you."

I watched the scene, completely astonished.

What the hell? You liked your wife this much?