Chapter 791: PAID

Whooooooong—!!

The barrier I had set up trembled violently.

It was partly because I hadn’t properly controlled my energy, but the old man’s words were so shocking that they left a far greater impact.

“…What do you mean by that?”

I narrowed my eyes and stared at the old man.

Did you turn back time?

That’s what the old man had asked me.

‘What the hell…’

My mind, which had gone ice cold, began spinning rapidly.

How did he know to ask me that?

Could it be—

‘…Is this old man a regressor too?’

I was already aware that there were others besides me who had returned.

Whether it was by rewinding time or crossing over from another world, I wasn’t certain.

But it wouldn’t be strange if someone else had come before me.

And so, I regarded the old man with heightened wariness.

Could it be that the first master of the Baekhwa Trading Company was a regressor?

While I was drowning in those thoughts and staring at him—n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Clack.

The old man set down his teacup and spoke again.

“I merely said it as a passing remark. The achievements of the First Young Master were so immense for someone of your age that I wondered if that might be the case.”

“…”

“Judging by your reaction, however, it seems my joke was a bit excessive. I apologize.”

“…A joke…you say.”

“Hmm?”

The old man tilted his head with an odd glint in his eyes.

“So then, you really haven’t turned back time?”

“Of course not. How could such a thing be possible? Absolutely not.”

I forced out a laugh and even waved my hands as if to dismiss the idea.

“It was just so absurd that I was momentarily caught off guard. Turning back time… That’s completely ridiculous, isn’t it?”

I tried to hide my unease as I spoke, but the old man simply stared at me in silence.

‘Is he suspicious?’

This was a real headache.

Was he testing me because he already knew something, or did my reaction make him suspicious? I couldn’t tell.

‘Damn it.’

This reminded me of all the times people, including Muk Yeon, had said I was a terrible liar.

If I had been prepared for this, it might have been different, but his sudden question about regression had left my mind blank.

No matter how hard I tried to keep a straight face, I felt like it was too late.

While I was struggling with those thoughts—

“I don’t think it’s an impossible concept,” the old man said.

“…What?”

He looked at me calmly as he continued.

“Young Master, as a merchant, I’ve met all sorts of people in my time.”

I pretended to listen attentively while my mind kept racing.

“Some claimed to have come from other worlds. Others said their bodies weren’t their own and that they had once been the greatest martial artists in the world. I’ve encountered every kind of character imaginable.”

“Those people were just lunatics, weren’t they?”

What nonsense—other worlds, other bodies?

‘They sound like total nutjobs.’

It was absurd.

“You actually believe them?” I asked.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then?”

“But I don’t think it’s all lies either.”

“…Excuse me?”

“There are plenty of things in this world that are far more absurd. And since I am not omniscient, I can’t dismiss their claims outright.”

“…”

His calm words carried an unspoken weight that I couldn’t quite decipher.