Regression of the Yong Clan Heir Chapter 41 : Saving Shangguan Mijong (1)

Chapter 41: Rescuing Shangguan Mijong (1)

"My daughter seems to like Young Master Yong. Please take good care of her."

"Mother."

Shangguan Yuseol thought her mother was getting this involved because she mistakenly believed Yuseol had feelings for Yong Hwarin.

But then, the thought that it might not be a mistake crossed her mind—and her face flushed red.

Seeing how strangely the situation was unfolding, Jaegal Yohye quickly disrupted the atmosphere.

"Wouldn’t the Clan Head be furious if Madam Ha takes the lead?"

"Hmph, would he dare to act that way toward ?"

At the sudden flash of anger in her voice, Shangguan Yuseol flinched.

As Ha Yanggyo walked out, guards dropped down from the corridor and the roof.

"I’m going to see the Clan Head. Lead the way."

She had seed like nothing more than a beautiful woman, but seeing her command her subordinates, she was clearly a formidable lady.

‘So that woman was Father’s lover.’

It didn’t feel like they matched at all, but since they claid to be in love, the thought made her chuckle.

She exuded a completely different energy compared to her mother, who was the embodint of femininity.

"Hmph, you look like you're on cloud nine."

Jaegal Yohye quipped as she passed by, seeing Yong Hwarin grinning foolishly behind her.

"Madam, that is my personal matter. It is not sothing you should concern yourself with."

"Can you really reject my request so coldly?"

Madam Ha pressed Shangguan Clan Head into a corner with a frosty air.

Shangguan Byeokin hadn’t expected even the Madam to get involved, and now glared at Yong Hwarin with fury in his eyes.

Yong Hwarin was standing outside the main hall and couldn’t hear their conversation, but he could tell it was quite heated.

"There’s no need to glare at that child. I’m the one making the request."

The Shangguan Clan Head rarely got to see her, so he hated that this was the reason.

Still, if he earned her wrath now, he might not get to see her for months, and that fear made him cautious.

"Ah, fine. I’ll allow it. Please, just let go of your anger."

The rumors were true. Shangguan Byeokin was completely henpecked.

"Thank you. Then I’ll take that as your agreent."

"May I visit today?"

As she was walking out, Ha Yanggyo answered,

"I’ll be waiting."

That made Shangguan Byeokin's face light up.

Their relationship had been distant lately, but this could turn into a blessing in disguise.

Once Madam Ha had left, he summoned Yong Hwarin.

But rather than speaking to Yong Hwarin directly, he spoke through the Chief Administrator.

"Chief Yu, arrange for Young Master Yong to et with One Who Connects All Lives. And if he requests anything there, handle it as you see fit."

As Chief Yu left with Yong Hwarin, Shangguan Byeokin stared intently at him until he was out of sight.

The Shangguan Clan’s prison was located underground, beneath the annex where their warriors resided.

Even if a criminal escaped, they would never make it out of the annex packed with warriors.

Chief Yu led Yong Hwarin into the dungeon.

One Who Connects All Lives had been transferred to an external prison, away from the view of other criminals.

After lighting the oil lamp on the wall, Chief Yu spoke.

"This is One Who Connects All Lives."

One Who Connects All Lives wore a Taoist robe, but his face looked pale, likely due to the suppression technique applied to him.

In his past life, One Who Connects All Lives had been a fat man with a body size much like Yong Hwarin's.

He had grown large from making good money off exorcism and divination. But now, in contrast, he had a slender fra.

Though he was in his thirties, his body still carried plenty of muscle. He might be lean, but he didn’t look weak.

It was obvious how much he had suffered in this place.

One Who Connects All Lives had no idea why he was summoned here, but when he saw a young man staring at him, he assud he was the reason.

"What’s this about?"

Once Chief Yu stepped aside, Yong Hwarin opened his mouth.

"I have a spirit attached to . Can you tell what it is?"

One Who Connects All Lives—whose na was Nan Myeonggwak—stood and approached the iron bars.

"Co closer."

Yong Hwarin followed his instruction and stepped forward.

"Open your eyes wide and don’t blink."

As Yong Hwarin widened his eyes, One Who Connects All Lives stared deeply into them.

Even though the oil lamp was on the wall and couldn’t reflect his pupils properly, it was as if One Who Connects All Lives was actually seeing sothing.

"Hmm, indeed a spirit is attached to you. The eyes are connected to the Upper Dantian. One can tell from the eyes whether a spirit is attached or not. Do you wish to exorcise it?"

Yong Hwarin shook his head at the question.

"No. I want to awaken the spirit and speak with it."

"Hahaha, in all my life, I’ve t plenty who begged to get rid of ghosts—but you’re the first to ask to awaken one. I don’t have that kind of ability."

Yong Hwarin, unlike others, knew the truth about this man.

"One Who Connects All Lives, I know who you are. You’re an undercover agent from the Heretical Church. I don’t believe soone like that wouldn’t have the power to awaken a spirit."

At those words, Nan Myeonggwak grabbed the bars and said,

"Who are you? How do you know my identity? Even the Shangguan Clan doesn’t know that."

"That’s not what matters. What matters is, if you do this favor, I’ll grant a request in return. But anything like asking to save you or help you escape is out of the question. I can’t go against the Shangguan Clan."

One Who Connects All Lives shook his head.

"No, you can save ."

"That’s impossible. The Clan Head has already made his decision. You’re going to die."

"I’ve been wrongly accused. Shangguan Mijong didn’t end up like that because of . If I can awaken Shangguan Mijong, I might be spared."

"That’s beyond my power."

Yong Hwarin wanted to draw the line.

But One Who Connects All Lives said sothing unexpected.

"You can awaken Shangguan Mijong."

"?"

"Yes. Not you—but the spirit attached to you."

"What are you talking about?"

One Who Connects All Lives licked his dry lips.

Yong Hwarin handed him a flask.

It didn’t contain water—but liquor.

After taking a few gulps, One Who Connects All Lives laughed.

"Can’t rember the last ti I had a drink like this."

One Who Connects All Lives licked his lips after draining the water jug filled with alcohol once more.

“Such a sha. I wish there were more to drink.”

“I’ll bring you more later.”

One Who Connects All Lives found it surprising that this young man had brought him alcohol instead of water on his visit.

It was a thoughtfulness unthinkable for soone his age.

“Thank you. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. The reason Shangguan Mijong ca to see was also for an exorcism.”

“Exorcism? Are you saying she was possessed too?”

“You’re half right and half wrong. She was possessed of her own volition.”

“I don’t understand what you an.”

As Yong Hwarin muttered, One Who Connects All Lives sat down on the floor. He needed a mont to collect his thoughts before speaking.

“She was practicing a unique martial art. She said it was a technique to split the mind. She claid that by dividing her mind and using different martial arts from each, she could beco invincible. But after she began learning it, she kept hearing soone speak to her inside her own head.”

“Mhm.”

When Yong Hwarin responded with a hum, One Who Connects All Lives continued.

“You could call it a kind of schizophrenia. Normally, that sort of symptom is a side effect of splitting the mind. But she believed she was possessed by a spirit and ca to asking for an exorcism. After receiving treatnt from for a short while and returning to her clan, she collapsed. And all the bla was pinned on . Since I was the last one she t before collapsing, they believed I was the cause.”

“Couldn't you just tell them the truth?”

“Of course I told the Shangguan Clan Leader everything. But even while he seed to understand, he still wanted to have killed. Perhaps it’s easier for him to believe his daughter was hard by than to admit she fell into Qi Deviation. Maybe he simply wants to prevent rumors from spreading. After all, they’d want to keep any gossip about their martial arts being dangerous from circulating.”

Shangguan Mijong had been expected to beco a high-level expert on par with Jegal Cheongyeong of the renowned Jaegal Clan.

And indeed, she had risen to beco one of the Murim’s Twelve Flowers, alongside Jegal Cheongyeong. A woman of her caliber would not simply collapse and die like this.

“In my judgnt, Shangguan Mijong is engaged in a fierce battle with another version of herself. That too presents symptoms similar to possession. In a sense, that alternate self is no different from a spirit. And through the spirit attached to you, I can destroy her other self.”

As he listened, Yong Hwarin found himself growing more curious.

“Then why didn’t you try that from the start? If you could save her, they wouldn’t kill you, would they?”

One Who Connects All Lives gave a soft chuckle.

“Where was I supposed to find soone possessed? And do you think they’d believe such a thing? Only soone like you, already possessed, would believe a tale like that. They’d just think I was trying to kill their daughter and move to execute imdiately.”

Shangguan Byeokin was narrow-minded enough to do exactly that.

As Yong Hwarin fell into thought, One Who Connects All Lives spoke with firm resolve.

“I have no regrets even if I die. So think carefully. If Shangguan Mijong lives, I’ll be set free. And if that happens, I’ll awaken the soul attached to you so you can speak with it. From what I saw through your eyes, that soul isn’t ordinary. If you're not careful, it has enough power to completely devour your own.”

Yong Hwarin hadn’t expected him to see even that, and was surprised.

“Shouldn’t I awaken my soul first? If I’m to heal Shangguan Mijong, I an.”

“Driving out a spirit only requires rituals and incantations. But to awaken a soul and converse with it, those aren’t enough. You need a proper ritual formation and to perform the rites within it with utmost precision. That’s impossible in a place like this.”

“Do you believe you can heal Shangguan Mijong?”

“If I didn’t have you, I might not be sure. But with you, it’s possible. And whether others believe it or not, you must believe. You know who I am, after all.”

“Alright. We have a deal.”

One Who Connects All Lives didn’t believe Yong Hwarin was the type to go back on his word.

He was a young man with enough willpower and composure to suppress the spirit attached to him.

He had never seen soone like that speak falsely.

“Tomorrow, I’m to be executed. We must resolve this today.”

Yong Hwarin thought of Ha Yanggyo and nodded.

“You will not die tomorrow. Trust .”

“Strangely, I do.”

Though it ca from a young man, One Who Connects All Lives found the words strangely trustworthy. This was a youth strong enough to co all the way here to find him.

To him, Yong Hwarin was the final hope.

He had to believe—and had no choice but to believe.

*

Yong Hwarin’s words spread like wildfire and swept through the Shangguan Clan. The re claim that he could save Shangguan Mijong stirred up considerable commotion.

Thanks to that, the clan’s council of elders was convened, and Yong Hwarin was summoned to explain the situation.

Upon hearing his explanation, all eyes turned skeptical.

It was understandable. For those who hadn’t experienced possession themselves, the story was far too absurd.

However, once Lady Ha stepped forward, the tide of the conversation shifted dramatically.