A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 3: Scattering Destiny (2)

Drip, drip-drip...

The relentless storm finally began to taper off once Deputy Manager Oh was gone.

A short while later, the clouds parted to reveal a clearing sky.

"...No matter what lies ahead, I need to go find us something to eat."

I rose to my feet, leaving behind my two companions who were sinking into despair.

"Wait, Deputy Manager Seo. We should go with you."

"Exactly. What if those bizarre monsters snatch us up while we're alone?"

"...I suppose so. However..."

I offered them a pained smile.

"Technically, since they were taken to be disciples or because of their bloodlines, it's more like they were recruited rather than kidnapped..."

"That is kidnapping. Think about it. Did those freaks actually ask for permission before dragging them away?"

Director Kim argued with a scowl. Truthfully, it really was an abduction.

The three of us stayed close together as we searched for edible plants and fruit.

"Chew on this particular herb. It will help raise your body temperature."

As the air grew chilly following the rain, I handed out warming herbs to Director Kim and Manager Kim, who were both trembling.

"Th-thank you, Deputy Manager Seo."

"Seriously, if you weren't here, we would have been starving from day one..."

"Why didn't the company ever notice how capable you are..."

I let out a soft, dry laugh.

"The only skill I have is knowing how to survive in the wilderness for a few days. I don't possess any real talent or power beyond that."

"Stop being so humble. We are only alive because of you. You are essentially our savior."

"He's right, Deputy Manager."

The two of them tried to cheer me up, their voices still shaking.

Though moved by their kindness, I could only manage a hollow smile internally.

'This is the extent of what I can do for you.'

In this moment, I was little more than a merchant, using my knowledge of the future to purchase Director Kim’s goodwill.

I wasn't a hero, a virtuous man, or anyone's savior.

I was simply paying the highest price I could afford to secure their favor.

"That's why you should eat this too. It will clear your head."

"This herb is excellent for your circulation..."

"And this fruit is known to be good for one's complexion..."

I led them through the woods, ensuring Director Kim and Manager Kim consumed various medicinal plants and fruits.

'I managed to dig up some more yellow bamboo roots. I've also secured several rare herbs I remember from my previous life. And...'

I made sure both of them ate until they were full.

"Thank you, Deputy Manager Seo. Having a full stomach makes things feel a little less bleak."

"Deputy Manager. You really... you can't go anywhere."

"...Of course. I won't let myself be taken."

Evening began to fall as we continued our foraging through the forest.

'It's almost time.'

I pulled off my shirt and used Director Kim’s lighter to set it ablaze.

"Good heavens! Deputy Manager Seo! What are you doing?"

"De-deputy Manager!"

The fabric, which had dried after the storm while I walked, ignited easily.

I tossed the fruit we had just gathered into the flames of my burning clothes.

"We couldn't find dry wood because of the rain. Night is coming, and we need a fire."

"But... your clothes..."

"Don't worry about me. Didn't I just eat plenty of warming herbs?"

This was a parting gift for Manager Kim.

Leaving them in their state of shock, I waited a moment before using a branch to pull the roasted fruit from the embers.

"Manager Kim, have some. Director Kim, you as well."

"...Thank you, Deputy Manager Seo."

"Truly, thank you."

The sun vanished below the horizon.

We sat within the shelter of the cave, watching the twilight fade while eating the warm fruit.

This was likely my final meal with Manager Kim.

As we ate, we talked constantly to distract ourselves from the pain of losing Chief Oh, Section Chief Jeon, Deputy Manager Kang, and Deputy Manager Oh.

We shared loud laughs,

And quiet snickers.

I even pretended to be annoyed by Director Kim’s jokes.

We passed the time in a long stretch of conversation and laughter.

As the sunset shifted from vibrant red to deep purple, the sun finally slipped away completely.

In the distance.

Toward the Ascension Gate, where the various Cultivators and the Sea Dragon King had traveled,

Manager Kim suddenly snapped her head around.

"Manager Kim, what is it?"

Director Kim questioned Manager Kim Yeon. Witnessing her lips begin to quiver, I knew the moment had arrived.

"Uh, uhh..."

Her latent abilities had finally awakened.

"It's... it's bizarre... I can suddenly feel everything. My mind is stretching out for miles... Ah, ahh..."

Manager Kim Yeon, overwhelmed by the sudden expansion of her senses across several kilometers, grabbed her head and groaned in agony.

"Ugh... Grrr..."

"Deputy Manager Seo! What do we do? Do you have any herbs for a headache...?"

"I have some right here, but..."

I knew they would be useless.

Fifty years ago.

In my previous life, this was the exact moment she was taken.

"Ah, ahh...!"

She let out a soft cry, staring toward the Ascension Gate.

"It's coming! Something is coming!"

A tiny speck appeared in the sky from the direction of the Ascension Gate.

That speck grew with incredible speed as it hurtled toward our location.

Whoosh!

A massive, puppet-like beast screeched to a halt above our cave.

Perched atop this malevolent mechanical creature was a hunchbacked old man leaning on a staff.

[What have we here? Mortals? How did commoners without spiritual roots manage to reach the outskirts of the Path to Ascension? Ah, I see. With the Ascension Gate opening, the surrounding space has become volatile. You must have been swept up in a spatial storm! Kikihi, I truly am a genius for solving that mystery so quickly!]

The old man cackled at his own cleverness before addressing us again.

[Tell me, mortals. Which one of you just released that massive wave of consciousness? I was startled, thinking a high-level immortal had descended from the Upper Realm... Ah, is it that girl?]

Leap!

The old man hopped down from his puppet and walked toward the suffering Manager Kim Yeon.

"Who are you...? Manager Kim is... she's with us."

Director Kim stepped forward bravely to shield her.

With a simple flick of his chin, the old man sent Director Kim flying backward.

I rushed to intercept him, and though I scraped my back against the ground, I managed to catch him safely.

"Deputy Manager Seo, thank you. Hah, huff! Are you hurt? Your back!"

"I'm... fine."

While we recovered, the hunchbacked elder reached Manager Kim Yeon.

[Fascinating, truly fascinating. A normal human's consciousness shouldn't exist outside their own skull. Yet this girl's mind spreads out like silk threads in every direction. It is so vast I mistook it for an immortal...]

He tilted Manager Kim Yeon’s chin up, a wide grin on his face.

[Child, you shall become my disciple. You may lack spiritual roots now, but my techniques can force them to awaken. I am eager to see what happens when such a unique consciousness evolves into a Cultivation-grade divine consciousness...]

Manager Kim Yeon’s eyes shook with terror as she looked toward us.

"Director... Deputy Manager..."

[Hmm...? I have offered you a path, yet you still dwell on these mundane ties?]

"Ugh, huu..."

Large tears began to roll down her cheeks.

She had been terrified of being separated from us ever since our other colleagues were taken. The fear of being left alone in this world again was breaking her.

Seeing her reaction, the old man’s face twisted into a hideous mask as he pointed at us.

"Keug! Keuugh!"

"Argh!"

Director Kim and I collapsed, crying out in pain.

A crushing weight descended upon us, making it nearly impossible to draw breath.

[Then I shall sever these worldly attachments for you. Now...]

"No, please stop! I'll go! I'll do whatever you want! Just please spare them!"

Manager Kim Yeon sobbed, throwing herself at the old man's feet.

The hunchbacked elder frowned but pulled back his power.

The suffocating pressure that felt like it would crush our hearts finally vanished.

[Very well, since you insist... But remember, you belong to me now. You must discard all memories of these mortals. Do you understand?]

"...I understand..."

[Since I'm in a good mood, I will toss these two into a nearby mortal kingdom through a spatial rift. I'll cast them through randomly, so even I won't know their destination. You will never see them again! Forget these worthless connections!]

"Wait, just a second...!"

Whoosh!

Crack!

A pitch-black tear in reality opened behind Director Kim and me.

Director Kim tried to scramble away in terror, while I frantically grabbed the bundles of herbs I had left by the cave entrance.

[Into the void with you!]

With a wave of the old man’s hand, we were sucked into the rift.

"Eun-hyun! Director Young-hoon!!! No!"

As Manager Kim Yeon reached out for us one last time, we plunged into darkness and lost consciousness.

Blink.

My eyes snapped open as I sat up.

"Where am I...?"

I surveyed my surroundings, trying to match them to my memories from fifty years ago.

The scent of damp air.

The distant roar of a crowd...

"...What?"

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

This wasn't right.

This location was different from where Director Kim and I had landed in my first life.

I was in a narrow alley, with a busy street visible just a short distance away.

"Why is it different this time?"

Then I recalled the old man mentioning that the spatial rifts were random.

'...It was a random drop.'

Even the slightest change must have triggered a butterfly effect, altering the probabilities and sending me somewhere else entirely.

I looked behind me.

Director Kim was there, unconscious, with the herbs I had snatched scattered across the pavement.

'...I should check the area.'

I gathered the herbs into a corner and hid them under an old burlap sack.

Then, I stepped out onto the main road.

A wall of noise hit me instantly.

"Get the finest silk in Yanguo right here!"

"Fresh scriptures from Shengzhi Country!"

"Our pharmacy is the best in the city..."

It was a massive, thriving market.

To my relief, I recognized the language.

'That gave me a scare. I thought I might have ended up in a foreign land where I'd have to learn to speak all over again...'

Fortunately, it appeared I was still within Yanguo, the nation where I spent my previous life.

"Excuse me, I'm a bit lost. Could you tell me the name of this city? I've just arrived from the countryside and I'm a bit confused..."

I stopped a passerby to confirm our location.

In my past life, Director Kim and I had been dropped in Lianshan City.

It was a small border town in Yanguo.

The man looked at me like I was a lunatic, brushed my hand off, and huffed,

"Have you lost your mind? You're standing right in the middle of the capital and asking where you are? Ugh, what bad luck. I've run into a madman in the middle of the day..."

"The capital..."

A smile spread across my face as the realization hit me.

"Seokyung City!"

In this life, I had started at the very heart of Yanguo.