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.

The clouds parted after a short while, and the sky started to brighten.

"...No matter what lies ahead, I need to go find some food."

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

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

"Exactly. What if those strange monsters come back and snatch us up while we're alone?"

"...I suppose you're right. However..."

I offered them a pained smile.

"To be precise, 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. I mean, did those freaks actually ask for permission before dragging them away?"

Director Kim spoke while scowling. In truth, it really was a kidnapping.

The three of us stayed close together as we searched for fruits and herbs.

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

In the wake of the rain, I handed warming herbs to Director Kim and Manager Kim, who were both shivering in the damp chill.

"Th-thank you, Deputy Manager Seo."

"Seriously, if you weren't here, we would have been starving since the very first day..."

"I don't understand why the company never noticed how capable you are..."

I let out a soft, hollow laugh.

"The only skill I have is knowing how to survive in the wilderness for a few days. I don't possess any other talents or special abilities."

"You're being too humble. We are only alive because of you. You are practically our savior."

"He's right, Deputy Manager."

With trembling voices, the two of them tried to cheer me up.

Though moved by their honesty, I could only manage a bitter smile internally.

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

At this moment, I was acting like a merchant, using my knowledge of the future to purchase Director Kim's favor.

I am not a talented individual, a saint, or anyone's savior.

I am simply paying the highest price I can afford to secure their goodwill.

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

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

"This fruit is known to improve one's complexion..."

I traversed the woods, feeding Director Kim and Manager Kim a variety of medicinal plants and fruits.

'I managed to dig up some more yellow bamboo roots. I’ve also collected 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 this misery a bit easier to bear."

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

"...Don't worry. I won't get kidnapped."

As the sun began to set, I continued wandering the forest to gather more supplies.

'It should be about time now.'

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

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

"De-deputy Manager!"

The fabric, which had dried after the rain while I was walking, ignited easily.

I tossed the freshly gathered fruits into the flames of my burning clothes.

"The rain made it impossible to find dry firewood. It'll be dark soon, and we need a fire."

"But... your shirt..."

"I'll be fine. Didn't I eat plenty of those warming herbs?"

This was my parting gift for Manager Kim.

Leaving the panicked pair behind, I waited a moment before using a branch to pull the roasted fruits from the embers.

"Manager Kim, try this. Director Kim, you as well."

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

"Truly, thank you."

Darkness fell.

We sat within the cave, watching the twilight fade while eating the cooked fruit.

This would likely be my final meal with Manager Kim.

As we ate, we talked to mask the sorrow of losing Chief Oh, Section Chief Jeon, Deputy Manager Kang, and Deputy Manager Oh.

We shared loud laughs at times,

And quiet snickers at others.

Sometimes I just acted unimpressed by Director Kim's jokes.

In that manner, we passed the time laughing and conversing.

As the sunset transitioned from crimson to deep purple, the sun dipped below the horizon.

In the distance.

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

Manager Kim suddenly snapped her head around.

"Manager Kim, what is it?"

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

"Uh, uhh..."

Her latent abilities had been triggered.

"It's... it's bizarre... I can suddenly perceive everything around me. My senses are expanding for miles... Ah, ahh..."

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

"Ugh... Grrr..."

"Deputy Manager Seo! What do we do? Do you have an herb for headaches...?"

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

I doubted it would make any difference.

Fifty years ago.

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

"Ah, ahh...!"

She let out a faint scream, looking toward the Ascension Gate.

"It's coming! It's coming! Something is approaching!"

A tiny speck appeared from the direction of the Ascension Gate, where the Cultivation experts had gone.

The dot grew with incredible speed as it zoomed toward our location.

Whoosh!

A massive, beast-like puppet arrived above our cave at a staggering velocity.

Perched atop the ominous mechanical creature was a hunchbacked old man clutching a staff.

[What have we here? Mortals? How did commoners without spiritual roots reach the perimeter of the Path to Ascension? Ah, I understand. Space becomes volatile when the Ascension Gate opens. It seems these mere mortals were swept up in a spatial storm! Kikihi, I truly am a genius for solving such a mystery in a heartbeat!]

The boastful hunchback cackled for a moment before addressing us.

[Tell me, commoners. Which of you just released that massive surge of consciousness? It startled me; I thought a high-level immortal had descended from the Upper Realm... Ah, is it that one?]

Leap!

The old man vaulted down from his puppet and walked toward the pained Manager Kim Yeon.

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

Director Kim showed great courage by stepping in the old man's way.

However, with a simple flick of the old man's chin, Director Kim was sent flying through the air.

I rushed to intercept him, and though my back was badly scraped against the ground, I caught him safely.

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

"I'm... okay."

While we recovered, the hunchbacked Elder approached Manager Kim Yeon.

[Fascinating, truly fascinating. The consciousness of a normal mortal 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 presence...]

The hunchback lifted Manager Kim Yeon's chin, a wide grin on his face.

[Child, I shall take you as my disciple. You may lack spiritual roots now, but my skills can force them to awaken. I am eager to see what happens when such a unique consciousness develops into a Cultivator's divine consciousness...]

Manager Kim Yeon’s eyes shook with fear as she looked back at us.

"Director... Deputy Manager..."

[Hmm...? I have offered to take you, 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 coworkers were taken just days after arriving in this world. The prospect of being isolated again filled her with dread.

The old man’s face twisted into a hideous expression as he pointed a finger at us.

"Keug! Keuugh!"

"Argh!"

Both Director Kim and I collapsed, groaning in pain.

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

[Then I shall be the one to cut these worldly strings. Now...]

"No, stop! I'll do whatever you want! Just please don't hurt them!"

Weeping, Manager Kim Yeon threw herself at the old man's feet.

Seeing her submission, the hunchbacked Elder frowned and lowered his hand.

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

[Very well, if that is your wish... But understand this: you belong to me now, and you must discard all worldly memories. Do you understand?]

"...I understand..."

[Since it has come to this, I will cast these two into a nearby mortal realm through a spatial rift. I'll toss them in randomly, so even I won't know their destination. You will never see them again! Forget these trivial connections!]

"Wait a moment...!"

Whoosh!

Crack!

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

Terrified, Director Kim tried to scramble away, while I desperately lunged for the herbs and plants I had left by the cave mouth.

[Stay put!]

With a wave of the old man's hand, we were pulled into the void.

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

As Manager Kim Yeon reached out with a look of pure desperation, we lost consciousness within the rift.

Blink.

I regained my senses and sat up.

"Where is this...?"

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

The smell of dampness.

The faint, chaotic noise of a crowd...

"...What?"

I rubbed my eyes and took a closer look.

It didn't match my memory.

This location was not where Director Kim and I had arrived in my previous life.

I was in a narrow alley, with a busy street visible at the end of it.

"Why is it different this time?"

Then I recalled the hunchback mentioning he would create the spatial rifts at random.

'...It was randomized.'

Even the slightest change could have triggered a butterfly effect, altering the coordinates and sending me somewhere new.

I looked behind me.

Director Kim was there, and the herbs I had grabbed were strewn across the ground.

'...Let's see what's outside.'

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

Then I walked out onto the main road.

A wall of sound hit me immediately.

"Get the finest silk in Yanguo!"

"Fresh arrivals! Sacred texts from Shengzhi Country!"

"When it comes to our apothecary..."

The area was teeming with life.

Thankfully, the language was one I knew well.

'I was worried for a second. I thought I might have been dropped in a foreign land where I'd have to learn a new tongue...'

It appeared I had luckily landed within Yanguo, the same country I lived in during my last life.

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

I stopped a passerby to confirm my location.

In my past life, Director Kim and I had ended up in Lianshan City.

It was a minor city on the outskirts of Yanguo.

The man looked at me as if I were a lunatic, shook off my hand, and grumbled,

"Are you crazy? You're standing in the middle of the capital and asking where you are? What bad luck, running into a madman this early in 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.