# Chapter 46
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## Returner III
### Shin No-a
5
David Hume said that true friendship knows no age, only the free exchange of souls.
Immanuel Kant said that from young friends one learns passion, from old friends one learns wisdom, so one should not make friends based on age.
The most important point here is that neither of them ever actually left behind such famous quotes.
But the nuance got across, didn't it? So isn't that good enough?
My method of forming a friendship with the Sword Sovereign also followed the 'nuance.'
"Brother Undertaker!"
"Brother Sword Sovereign!"
That very day, we emptied four bottles of makgeolli and became sworn brothers.
We recognized each other as brothers with just a glance—it was practically a family reunion of separated kin. Even the Yu Gwang-jang three brothers would have been seized with jealousy and started angrily chewing peach pits 500 times if they had witnessed our bond.
What does that mean, you ask? Well... understand it through nuance.
Our 'makgeolli-bond' didn't end as merely a single night's amusement.
"Brother. I have something to report."
"Mmm...?"
The next morning, I bowed deeply toward the Sword Sovereign. For reference, the Sword Sovereign had gotten completely wasted and was personally checking the temperature of the main floor with his left cheek.
"Report? Ugh... what are you saying?"
"Last night, didn't you reveal to this brother that you are the direct disciple who received personal instruction from the Sect Leader of the Huashan Sect?"
In truth, no such thing had happened.
But the Sword Sovereign nodded as if it were obvious.
"Ah. That's right."
"How can one who should become the Sect Leader of Huashan simply hide in a remote thatched hut for eternity? Though one may speak of finding peace in poverty, one cannot pursue personal comfort when the world is in turmoil. You should return to Huashan and set the pillar of the sect upright."
"What did you say?"
The Sword Sovereign's mouth fell open. I could feel his surprise.
Specifically, I could feel the surprise of his stomach, which had gotten completely wasted.
For a while, the Sword Sovereign spent time injecting dawn air into his stomach in the front yard. More accurately, it was time letting his stomach taste the dawn air.
I could have described this scene in maximum detail, but for the readers, I will provide no visual or auditory materials whatsoever. My goodwill toward you all is this tender and infinite.
"Huuu."
The process was skipped and only the result remained. The Sword Sovereign noisily chugged water from a plastic basin (yes, that thing hanging at mineral water springs) and then looked at me seriously.
"Brother Undertaker."
He seemed to be trying to project profound depth. Adding my personal impression, something was definitely being projected, but it was closer to bad breath than inner energy.
"Are you saying you will escort me on the road back to Huashan?"
"Precisely."
"Your heart is most grateful, but the current martial world is a playground for the wicked Demonic Sect hordes. The Way is severed and Righteousness has collapsed. Honor is nothing but a sword hilt that only villains wear as an accessory. With what courage do you guarantee this journey through the江湖?"
"I will simply traverse the chaotic times with Benevolence."
"...!"
Do you understand what that means? I don't. But nuance existed nonetheless, and the Sword Sovereign glared as if he understood everything from that alone.
He slapped his knee.
"Indeed it is so! If this Seat cannot do it alone, then I shall accomplish it with my brother! After staying behind closed doors for so long, I had even forgotten this simple truth!"
"Will you trust this brother?"
"Returning to Huashan has been this Seat's lifelong wish. Friendship that discusses profit is precarious, but friendship that discusses wishes is solid. This Seat trusts only you, brother."
The developments after that were lightning-fast.
We left the island immediately. The Sword Sovereign must have lived his entire life on Ulleungdo, but his household goods were nothing special. They were so sparse that our luggage was perfectly prepared in less than 40 minutes after deciding on the journey.
The notable thing about the Sword Sovereign's attire was the pouch at his waist.
"Brother, what is that?"
The Sword Sovereign stroked his beard with a carefree expression.
"The essence of the Huashan Sect."
It was the same nonsense as always.
I shrugged and boarded the ship's deck.
"Uweeeeeeek-"
Ah, for reference, on the ship to the mainland, the Sword Sovereign also showcased the fragrance of his stomach to the waters of the East Sea.
Having dyed heaven and earth and sea in his own color at the same moment, I suppose it was fitting for the dignity of a master who had reached the Profound Realm.
But wasn't this person a native of Ulleungdo? No matter how much makgeolli he drank, he gets seasick? That's a shame to island people.
"Ugweeeeeeek...."
On every sea route from Ulleungdo to Gangneung, from Incheon to Shanghai, the Sword Sovereign displayed a deep friendship with the deck railing. Thanks to that, I was able to change careers to a massage therapist specializing in rubbing the Sword Sovereign's back.
The Sword Sovereign made an embarrassed excuse.
"This Seat's... when my dantian was damaged, my stomach and duodenum also suffered some injury. Heheh. This didn't use to happen before. How awkward."
Was the dantian connected to the stomach? That was amazing anatomical knowledge. It had as much academic value as investigating what material a unicorn's horn is made of.
As a side note, securing the ship passage to Shanghai was itself a miracle and my achievement.
As is well known, when the Gate incident occurred (now that everyone is familiar with the terminology, it would be fine to express it as 'when the Void Catastrophe broke out' or 'when the Void arrived'), the southern part of Seoul's Han River was blown away in an instant. Incheon couldn't possibly have remained intact.
There were as many people fleeing by sea as there were refugees by land. If I hadn't had the experience of traveling overseas multiple times, I wouldn't have been able to find a captain at that chaotic Incheon Port.
"Ohh."
China, arrived at after a thousand hardships.
The Sword Sovereign reddened his eyes.
"This place is... the Central Plains...! Behold! This Seat has returned triumphantly!"
He spoke as if the trip was completely over.
But I am an infinite regressor. While I mainly operated domestically, I had once called myself an internationalist and had traveled to China many times. Limited to Beijing, I had been there enough to be sick of it.
So I knew very well that the true hardship was just beginning.
6
Have you ever read Greek-Roman mythology or Norse mythology?
Perhaps while looking at other countries' mythologies, you may have fallen into this lament:
'Why didn't our country leave behind many systematic myths?'
I could talk about this at length, but my intention right now is not to engage in some academic debate.
Rather, I want to say this to you:
'It's fucking fortunate we didn't.'
There's a reason I suddenly brought up mythology.
Because when the Void arrived, the 'characters' from mythology started crossing over into reality.
They didn't even appear as described in the myths. They appeared updated to be more unintelligent, more Cthulhu-like, and therefore even more misanthropic.
Now you must guess why I ranked India and Japan as the top dangerous destinations for overseas travel.
Of course, countries in Asia that boast mythologies aren't limited to India and Japan. As nations possessing ghosts, other Asian countries like Thailand don't fall short in dignity either.
However, my point is, isn't the situation better than Japan, where all eight million gods descended to the human world at once, instantly solving both the low birth rate and aging population problems?
Areas like India and Nepal where Hindu faith spread, well... let's leave those out of consideration.
Have you ever seen the Ganges River and the Himalayas stained red? It's quite a spectacle, but I never want to see it again.
Truly the end times.
While the whole world was going to hell together in harmony, China wouldn't be left out. China also possessed an excellent list of monstrous deities, shouting 'Me too! I want to play too!'
You know how high-end Italian restaurants have dazzling wine lists. Similarly, China boasted menu boards such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing), Records of Gleaning (Shi Yi Ji), Treatise on Curiosities (Bo Wu Zhi), and Classic of Spirits and Strange Things (Shen Yi Jing).
It was the transitional period where the trend of martial arts was shifting from old martial arts to new martial arts, from new martial arts to immortal martial arts. Beings like monsters and creatures that felt somewhat alien in existing martial arts were evaluated as YOUNG and MZ in immortal martial arts.
Naturally, in China, which could be called the home of martial arts, they were leading this trend.
Therefore, I, who could be called the leader of this trip, made an extremely rational decision.
"Let's not go straight to Huashan, but stop by Chang'an first."
"Hmm? Why? Wouldn't that just be taking a detour for nothing?"
"There's an extremely troublesome monster nearby. We need to move to avoid them."
Avoidance. Unconditional avoidance.
If asked to name the most difficult strange beings in China, each awakener would have different tastes, but personally, I'd like to point to just two.
'Chaos' and 'Tan' (Gluttony).
As far as I know, tens of thousands of Chinese awakeners were torn apart by just these two creatures. Here, tens of thousands was a figure closer to 100,000 than 20,000. If awakeners were like this, the number of civilians sacrificed couldn't even be counted.
It would be a good example of what tragedy occurs when no human has reached the realm of immortals even though the world's genre has changed to immortal martial arts.
"If we had properly equipped ourselves, that would be one thing, but attacking them in our current state is not a good strategy."
"Mmm. If you say so..."
One should maintain proper distance and manners toward genres one is not familiar with. My genre belonged to modern fantasy, so how could I not be cautious of martial arts?
I thoroughly avoided Chaos and Tan when planning the travel route.
Instead, we encountered other monsters frequently, but the small fry were all cut down simply at my level.
The Sword Sovereign watched my swordsmanship from behind with his arms folded, occasionally exclaiming in admiration.
"Brother's level is truly amazing! Equal to this Seat in his prime or even above!"
"...."
Something like Huashan's lava rose from deep within my chest, but I held it back.
"...Thank you. This brother still has many shortcomings. Please guide me well, Brother."
"Heheh. With such an attitude, you will soon step into even higher realms. Persevere."
Originally, it was wise to designate areas of responsibility in travel. You check hotels, I look for restaurants, that sort of thing.
On any trip, if role distribution isn't done properly, it becomes exhausting in an instant. Anyone who has gone on a long-distance trip with someone, whether family or lover, will understand my words immediately.
I, Jang Eui-sa. Though I didn't show it, I prided myself as a travel master. Naturally, I understood the importance of role distribution.
Thus, my roles during the approximately two-month journey were as follows:
Travel route planning, covering travel expenses, procuring food, finding lodging, recruiting locals, Chinese interpretation (the future Sect Leader of Huashan Sect couldn't speak Chinese), carrying luggage, night watch, escort duty.
Then what did the Sword Sovereign handle, you ask? Hmm... alcohol?
Anyway. Among my roles, the Chinese interpretation was particularly important.
Even as an infinite regressor, going to Huashan was a first, and inevitably, I had to refer to locals' guidance. Moreover, major roads had been eaten by Chaos and Tan, so we couldn't move on well-known paths.
Whenever we passed through country roads, locals looked at us with curious eyes.
"You're Korean? What brings Koreans here?"
"We're traveling to Huashan."
"What?"
"This person here is my grandfather. He said he really wants to see Huashan with his own eyes before he passes away. I'm an awakener and can speak Chinese, so I set out on this journey to grant my grandfather's final wish."
"Heoh!"
The locals, who initially approached with curiosity and suspicion, reddened their eyes after hearing my answer.
For reference, throughout the trip, the Sword Sovereign was carried on my back. This was unavoidable. If I had demanded the Sword Sovereign walk on his own two legs, the trip would have taken 24 times longer. This is no joke and no exaggeration.
"Truly a rare filial son, no, filial grandson!"
"Not at all. I lost my parents young, and my grandfather raised me alone. I think it's only natural repayment."
"How can such a person exist in these turbulent times! Here, I have nothing to give, but take some of these peanuts. Our village's peanuts are really delicious."
Indeed, filial piety was a magic preseason pass that worked anywhere in East Asia.
The local country people, even with their meager living, tried to give me something extra. Village grandmothers even tried to fill baskets with peanuts, which I barely stopped. To express gratitude for their kindness, I mowed down monsters near the villages like cutting weeds. This was a win-win.
The Sword Sovereign, carried on my back, exclaimed in admiration.
"I heard country hospitality has become stingy these days, but it was all nonsense. Aren't they this kind?"
"Well, if I had told them I was carrying an old man who thinks he's the Huashan Sect Master, 99% of that kindness would have disappeared."
"Hmm? Brother, what did you just say?"
"I didn't say anything."
China travel, day 62.
After truly countless twists and turns, encountering a typhoon midway and barely escaping, through all sorts of chaotic mess, finally, we arrived at Huashan.
"Ohh, finally... Huashan...!"
The prospective 261st Sect Leader of the Huashan Sect exclaimed like a tourist seeing Huashan for the first time.
Of course, I didn't point that out. I was a considerate younger brother. I simply asked politely.
"It was truly a difficult journey. This brother also wants to quickly see the grandeur of the sect where you trained. Where are the sect buildings?"
"Unfortunately, our sect was razed by the Heavenly Demon's attack 45 years ago."
He deftly avoided the question containing the hidden meaning, 'Your sect existing is a lie, right? Actually, there are no buildings either?' As expected, a trivial technique like this didn't work on a master who had dedicated his entire life to martial artist cosplay.
"While all my fellow disciples were slaughtered, this Seat too had no choice but to flee. Now you probably can't even find the ruins."
"You don't know where they are?"
"The mountain terrain is secluded, truly a famous mountain."
My attack didn't leave a scratch on the Sword Sovereign's mental state.
I shook my head and continued climbing.
A famous mountain doesn't show off its scenery from the beginning but hides it. Huashan too, as a famous mountain under heaven, revealed its true face only when one entered with one's own feet through the mountain terrain made of layers of rock. With each step, the view expanded as if a folding screen was unfolding.
I looked around the ridge.
"The people have all left, but the buildings are still relatively intact."
Ah, the buildings mentioned here were of course not Huashan Sect buildings. They simply referred to various convenience facilities. Shelters, stairs, shops, and so on.
The cable car that hikers probably used before the Void arrived also looked neat on the outside. A rest stop was built near the cable car drop-off point, and this seemed just right for a base camp.
I checked the warehouse just in case, but as expected, there was no food left.
Well, a biological farm that produces food just by breathing was my companion on this trip. I wouldn't have to worry particularly.
"Brother. I'll set up our base here."
"Do as you wish, brother."
I put down my backpack and also put down the Sword Sovereign (this gentleman naturally used my back delivery service even while hiking).
The Sword Sovereign collapsed face-down on the rest stop floor with an expression that said he was finally going to live.
"Oh my, my old bones ache. After returning for the first time in decades, I see I can't even handle wandering around anymore."
Anyone watching would think he hiked on his own feet.
I took out bottled water, a burner, and ramen from my backpack and cooked.
I think you can sufficiently guess how much I suffered on this trip from just that one line of description that just appeared. Yes. I crossed the Chinese continent carrying the Sword Sovereign on my back and hugging a 1-meter backpack to my chest.
"Brother. The ramen is done."
"Mm."
The old man who had been lying spread-eagled on the floor rose like a ghost and picked up his chopsticks.
The Sword Sovereign slurped the noodles with huuu- hoorup sounds, then looked up at the rest stop ceiling.
"Huh. I've said this many times, but the ramen you cook is truly delicious. I've met countless masters of ramen in my life, but there's no master like you."
"You flatter me."
"No, I mean it. I really don't understand how such flavor comes out..."
If you cook ramen for hundreds of years, anyone can reach this level.
I even became a chef in the 45th iteration. While I wasn't Earth's strongest chef, I could dare to claim to be the best at cooking with ingredients from the Void. This was the experience of an infinite regressor.
"...."
Truly useless experience.
"Buurp. I ate well."
I shifted my thinking. Anyway, what's important right now isn't my ramen-cooking skills, but what kind of reaction the Sword Sovereign will show from now on.
Until now, the Sword Sovereign had always muttered, 'If I could just go to Huashan, I'd have no regrets.' In the previous iteration, and the one before that, the Sword Sovereign always wished for a trip to Huashan.
A wish maintained consistently regardless of time.
It indicated the strength of the heart. It meant conviction.
From my perspective as a regressor, there were few things as interesting as the human heart.
'And I fulfilled his life's wish.'
Now the wish was granted, so only curiosity remained.
Extremely trivial and private curiosity of a regressor.
That's why it was the most important curiosity in this world above all else.
'What kind of reaction will you show, Sword Sovereign.'
Will he say let's return to the Korean peninsula now that his bucket list is achieved? Or will he try to realize his delusion and build Huashan Sect buildings. Which will it be?
I quietly watched the Sword Sovereign. He patted his full stomach as if satisfied, then stood up and stretched widely.
"Now that I'm full, I should get to work."
I'll say this in advance—my predictions were all completely off.
An infinite regressor spinning tales.