Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1601. Transmigrated to the Central Plains’ Murim (6)

No matter how I thought about it, this situation was completely absurd. Naturally, I found myself staring blankly at Murong Yul standing beside the clan head. My face was practically asking what the hell he thought he was doing and what kind of situation this was supposed to be.

I expected some kind of answer, but Murong Yul could only awkwardly avoid my gaze.

'Wow, this bastard. Are you serious right now?'

Hadn't he confidently promised just a few days ago that he would somehow make it happen? It looked like he had tried to persuade the Murong Clan Head in his own way, but instead of doing the persuading, he looked like the one who had been persuaded.

Of course, he probably had his own circumstances. It couldn't have been easy trying to mediate between his father and his younger sister while searching for the best possible outcome. Judging by how red his face was, he had to have fought pretty hard. It almost looked like the Murong Clan Head had smacked his fully grown son across the face.

There had to have been some intense battle of wills somewhere I hadn't seen.

'But still, damn it, how can you try to send your own little sister to a gorilla?'

"..."

"..."

'Just look at that face. The answer is obvious. Haven't people always said looks reflect character? Anyone can tell that he's the type who'd make his wife suffer her entire life... This makes no sense at all...'

Marrying that guy was tantamount to boarding an express train straight to hell. Sure, he wouldn't mistreat me or look down on me because I carried the blood of the Murong Clan, but that probably wouldn't last more than a few years. Once enough time had passed, wouldn't he gradually change?

I could already imagine all the humiliating things I'd have to endure.

Coming home drunk every day would be a given. Whenever things didn't go his way, he would start taking his frustrations out on me. I could already hear it. He’d say I had ruined his life, and he ended up like that because of me.

'He might even hit me. This bastard definitely looks like the type to do that.'

He'd probably treat me decently at first, but before long, he'd probably start looking at Squirmy with irritation and snap at him, too. If he ever had children of his own, he'd probably stop even looking at Squirmy altogether. There was no need to see any more, but I figured I’d check the gorilla's status window.

'Huh?'

Something completely unexpected entered my field of vision.

"..."

'A... Supreme Realm master? You're on the verge of entering the Transformation Realm? What the hell are you? Y-You can use Sword Energy?'

"..."

'Y-You're younger than I thought... Why do you look so old?'

"..."

'Nature is... a righteous idealist?'

"..."

'Unique Habit is... eternal devotion?'

"..."

'Attribute says... non-drinker? You don't even drink?'

"..."

'Nickname says the Great Hero of Shenyang? You're respected enough to have the title “Great Hero”?'

"..."

'Y-You idiot. Why... are you rotting away in the Murong Clan?'

The stats were enough to make my jaw drop. I genuinely couldn't understand why someone like him was still in the Murong Clan. Seeing that the Murong Clan Head had reached the Transformation Realm told me everything I needed to know.

Considering that the Transformation Realm was practically the stuff of legends around here, the Clan Head was certainly impressive in his own right, but the Clan Head and this gorilla were not on the same level.

The Clan Head seemed to suffer from the same low Endurance and Stamina that plagued the other Murongs, and his growth potential had already dried up.

\Well, the guy was already in his fifties, so it was only natural that he had stopped growing, but even if he somehow managed to improve even further, there was no way he would ever surpass the gorilla.

This gorilla called Commander Baek was fundamentally different from the other flawed members of the Murong Clan.

'He's got a steel-like body.'

He was born with it. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he possessed the perfect physique for a martial artist. To put it a little dramatically, he almost felt like a lesser version of Bahamut. Even if he was a lesser version of Templar Bahamut, it was still the highest praise imaginable.

The body of that ancient hero was more perfect than that of any swordsman I had ever seen. If this guy were handsome, the Blue Guild would hire him on the spot without asking a single question. On top of that, he still had tremendous room for growth.

He looked like the type who only focused on martial arts with brute force, yet even his internal energy was pure—incredibly pure. It was unbelievably pure for someone with that face. As for his personality...

'Wh-Why is he the exact opposite?'

Astonishingly, his appearance and personality were complete opposites. The eyes that looked like those of a savage gorilla just moments ago were now overflowing with conviction.

I could understand why Murong Yul had agreed with the Clan Head's opinion. As much as I hated to admit it...

'Th-There really... might not be a better husband candidate than this guy...'

It became even more obvious when I considered Murong Hwa-Yeon's situation. In this day and age, what man would willingly take a woman with a child, especially an illegitimate child, as his wife rather than a concubine?

From what I had heard, her reputation wasn't particularly good, either. Sure, she was the daughter of a prestigious clan, so they could probably find a husband for her if they looked hard enough, but the chances of that person having ulterior motives were high.

Compared to people like that, the gorilla standing before me was practically Prince Charming on a white horse. Just the fact that he was still working for the Murong Clan told me how loyal the guy was.

'This gorilla... is trapped in the Murong Clan and isn't really being appreciated. If he were independent, they wouldn't call him the Great Hero of Shenyang. They'd call him something like the Supreme Sovereign of Shenyang...'

I didn't know whether his family served the Murong Clan for generations or what, but he genuinely seemed like the type who would throw away his life for the Murong Clan without hesitating about it.

He already seemed warm-hearted by nature, and it was obvious he'd make a good husband for Murong Hwa-Yeon. Since he was also a member of the Murong Clan, it would prevent any unnecessary rumors from spreading as well.

With his still-growing martial prowess, he would be recognized as one of the strongest martial artists in the Central Plains the moment he reached the Transformation Realm.

Considering his age, he could even reach heights beyond that. Compared to all those so-called Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, this guy was the real treasure. Even his unique habit was Eternal Devotion, for crying out loud...

'H-He even looks easy to manipulate... and he seems... kind-hearted, too...'

“...”

“...”

Yeah, if there was one problem, it was that.

'B-But... he's... a gorilla...'

The fact that he was a gorilla. It was such a fatal flaw that it nearly erased every single one of his advantages. Of course, if I truly had nowhere else to turn, entrusting my future to Commander Baek wouldn't be the worst option.

However, the Jin family's young master was practically guaranteed to come looking for me soon, so marrying Commander Baek would be ridiculous. Obviously, I had to reject him.

"..."

Of course, my stance wasn't rejection for Commander Baek's sake.

'I-I need to make a good impression first.'

The important thing was to look at the Murong Clan Head as though I found him disgusting.

"I was a fool... for believing that you... had changed."

"..."

"Did you wish to hide the clan's disgrace so badly that you would force such... a sacrifice upon Commander Baek?" I questioned.

"..."

"..."

"Commander Baek has already agreed to it," Hwa-Yeon’s father said to me.

"More like you gave the order... and Commander Baek accepted it," I argued.

'Right?'

"..."

'H-huh? No? D-Don't tell me... you actually like me?'

"..."

'Y-You really do? I-Is that why? Were you so head over heels for me that you'd even accept Jin-Cheon as well?'

"..."

'You’re a devoted gorilla?'

"..."

"It was m-my mistake, and this is my child. I cannot ask him to bear that responsibility alongside me," I said.

"..."

"I will accept all the shame and humiliation myself. I know that path will be difficult, but it’s a burden I brought upon myself. The things that must be endured and borne are mine alone, and I require no one's help in that process," I added.

"Have you forgotten that the name before your given one is Murong? The shame and humiliation you suffer aren’t yours alone to bear. As long as you were born bearing the name Murong Hwa-Yeon, everything concerning you is a matter of the clan," Hwa-Yeon’s father said to me.

"Of course. I knew you would say that, which is why you've once again chosen what’s best for the clan," I argued back.

"Hwa-Yeon... do you truly believe that I made this decision solely for the sake of the clan?" Hwa-Yeon’s father asked me.

"..."

"How can you not see that this is the best choice for you as well?!" he shouted.

'And now the voices are starting to rise.'

"Not what's best for me, but what's best for the clan! Do you think I don't know you're trying to tie Commander Baek to the clan by forcing him to marry me?! Do you think I don't know that you value the clan's prestige, honor, and influence more than anything?!" I shouted back.

"Murong Hwa-Yeon!"

"You value the Murong name above all else, so why is it that you've never once considered my honor and dignity?! As you yourself said, I’m also a member of the Murong Clan!

“Even if Jin-Cheon was a child born from my mistake, he still has a father! Which means I, too, have a husband! Father! How can I possibly take another man as my husband while abandoning Jin-Cheon's father?!" I shouted.

"Silence!"

'Hearing that in person is really something.'

"Are you seriously calling that gambling addicted wastrel your husband?!" he questioned.

"Considering my own conduct, is it really so strange for someone like me to have a gambling addict as a husband?!" I argued.

"You complained about the clan day after day! And now you're saying you'll abandon the clan and run off to the Jin Family of Shenyang?! Don't think things will be that easy! If you truly believed the Jin Family would accept you—"

"I never said I intended to go to the Jin family. After inflicting an unforgivable wound and humiliation on him, how could I possibly be shameless enough to crawl to the Jin Family? However, if I am to become a mother whom my child can be proud of... then in my heart... until the day I die... he will remain my husband.

“That is my resolve. That is my decision," I interrupted him.

"You’re... really..."

"I've had enough! I've had enough of this!" I said.

"..."

"Enough of living in a place this suffocating!" I yelled out.

"..."

"I’m done having my life be dictated by your orders! Do you still not realize that you're repeating the exact same mistake you made with Mother?! Why are you so obsessed with the honor and prestige of the name Murong?!

“Who cares if we're one of the Five Great Clans or one of the Seven Great Clans?! What if the clan's influence declines?! What if the Jin Family becomes the ruler of Shenyang?! Why do you still not understand what truly matters?!" I complained.

"Everything I've done was for your sake! Don't you understand that you and the clan are one and the same?! Do I really have to explain that to you?!" Hwa-Yeon’s father questioned me.

"I don't consider myself to be part of the clan! You’ve simply decided that on your own..." I muttered.

"If that's truly what you think, then abandon the Murong name!" Hwa-Yeon’s father shouted at me.

'Ah... and now we're heading straight for disaster, aren't we?'

"The clothes you're wearing right now! The place you're living in! The food you eat and the water you drink! All of it comes from the Murong name! You’re a naïve child who knows nothing of what happens beyond the clan's walls! Can you really say the same thing to me after experiencing the real world?!" he questioned.

'The doting father is saying things he doesn't even mean now.'

"..."

"..."

"Do you really think I can't do it?! Then perhaps... this is for the best," I said.

"..."

"If abandoning the Murong name means I can finally free myself from it, then so be it!" I added and glared at the Murong Clan Head with burning eyes.

'I'm never gonna compromise, old man.'

"..."

'Never.'

"..."

'So you should give up.'