Absolute Regression

I slowly walked into the Cave of Ten Thousand Evils.

The Unorthodox Alliance had made it a sanctuary, so the interior was well-decorated. The air circulated well, and thanks to the luminous pearls embedded throughout, the inside was bright.

After walking in for a while, a wide space appeared. This was the Cave of Ten Thousand Evils. On the newly constructed walls, the life of the Great Evil Sect Master was recorded in words and illustrations.

From his birth and unfortunate childhood, through his arduous martial arts training, the heroic tales of his youth, to his eventual rise as the grandmaster of the Unorthodox sect, his entire life story was depicted.

But that was all. There was nothing else. This was the reason Bih Sa-in had brought me here. It was merely a place where the life story of a legendary master of the Unorthodox sect from three hundred years ago was recorded.

The pinnacle of his life was his battle with the Heavenly Demon.

Although he did not win, surviving that fight made him a renowned figure to this day.

According to the records on the wall, he treated his injuries and stayed here for ten days before leaving. Fortunately, there was water here, which allowed him to survive.

It was written that after that, he went into seclusion and never appeared in the martial world again.

So, how did that information become known?

Ten years from now, an earthquake would occur here, causing the wall to collapse and revealing a new space.

I drew the Black Demon Sword.

*Ziiiing.*

A sky-blue sword aura emanated from the Black Demon Sword.

I embedded the aura-infused sword into the lower part of the west wall. Following the demarcation line below the part made for the inscriptions and drawings, I cut through it cleanly, making an opening large enough for a person to crawl through.

The collapsed wall was this west wall. The wall was not thick, so after cutting deep enough to penetrate it, I used my internal energy to push the stone inward.

I crawled through the opening. This inner space was where the Great Evil Sect Master had spent the rest of his life meditating on martial arts before he died.

His discourse on martial arts was inscribed on the wall. Considering that he left it in such a secretive space, it seemed he did not want anyone unworthy to see it.

I slowly read it.

It was a comprehensive discourse on martial arts based on the enlightenment he gained through his battle with the Heavenly Demon.

The martial arts of the Great Evil Sect Master were extremely profound and lofty. For ordinary masters, reading it a hundred times would be as futile as trying to grasp at clouds. But I was no ordinary master.

I read it over and over again. The teachings left behind by the greatest master of the Unorthodox sect in the past three hundred years. There was no need to memorize it. It was a matter of understanding.

At first, I gained enlightenment from the differences. The new learnings that came from martial arts entirely different from the Demonic Cult’s techniques. ⱤáƝôᛒƐs

But the more I read and re-read it, I realized that all martial arts ultimately originated from the same root. From this sameness, I gained enlightenment.

It was both similar and different. Understanding which parts were different and which parts were the same. This subtle difference determined whether one could become a peerless master.

I read the text again, swung my sword, and then read it once more, practicing the techniques like a madman. The experience was both refreshing and intense.

If I had only mastered demonic techniques, or if I had only mastered the martial arts of the Unorthodox sect, his teachings would not have resonated with me so profoundly.

But I had lived a life transcending factions, and I had surpassed my origins who shackled me to demonic techniques. Thus, the final enlightenment of the Great Evil Sect Master deeply resonated with me.

While practicing the forms of the Soaring Sword Art, I suddenly realized something.

I had achieved the Twelve Star Greatness of the Soaring Sword Art.

Just as water flows naturally downward, the teachings of the Great Evil Sect Master had naturally guided me to the next level.

The difference between Eleven Star Greatness and Twelve Star Greatness was of another dimension. A martial art reaching its ultimate state had finally been completed.

“Ah!”

I was overjoyed. In my past life, I had never achieved Twelve Star Greatness in any martial art. Hence, now achieving it in the lofty Soaring Sword Art filled me with immense joy.

I bowed down in that place. Although he was a grandmaster of the Unorthodox sect, I sincerely expressed my deep gratitude.

“Thank you for leaving such great teachings. Although an Unorthodox person did not receive this precious fate, the one who seeks to help your descendants has received it, so please do not be too disappointed.”

As I bowed and tried to get up, something caught my eye.

There was something hidden in a place visible only when bowing down. As I approached closer, I saw it was a letter. It was a letter left by the Great Evil Sect Master. The last lines of the letter caught my eye.

“…I realized that even if I consumed this Millennial Black Lingzhi, I would not be able to kill the Heavenly Demon. Therefore, I did not take it and left it for future generations. Please cherish this fate.”

“Millennial Black Lingzhi?”

I was startled and examined the area around where the letter had been placed. Behind the spot where the letter lay, there was a small hole. Peering inside, I saw the Millennial Black Lingzhi growing there.

When I injected a bit of internal energy and pushed, the earthen wall crumbled, revealing a small hidden space.

Amazingly, what was growing there was indeed the Millennial Black Lingzhi. It was an elixir more potent than any I had ever consumed.

Had I not bowed in gratitude to the Great Evil Sect Master, I would have neither discovered the letter nor the Millennial Black Lingzhi. Whether this was the master’s intention or a coincidence, I had obtained a second fortuitous encounter. 2

“Thank you once again.”

I carefully harvested the Millennial Black Lingzhi. It was smaller than a regular Lingzhi mushroom, with the accumulated and refined spiritual energy of countless years contained within its small form.

Right then and there, I consumed the Millennial Black Lingzhi.

A tremendous surge of energy spread throughout my body. This massive energy could have caused the meridians to burst in someone who couldn’t handle it.

But I, with my robust meridians strengthened by the Heavenly Meridian Strengthening Technique and the pure internal energy accumulated from previous elixirs, was able to absorb the Millennial Black Lingzhi without any side effects.

I focused on circulating the energy meticulously. After it settled in my dantian, I opened my eyes.

I couldn’t know how profound the internal energy of my father, the leader of the Martial Alliance, or the leader of the Unorthodox Alliance was, but now I could confidently say that my internal energy rivaled theirs.

I left the teachings of the Great Evil Sect Master in the letter and on the wall as they were. When the earthquake strikes and the wall collapses, most of it will be destroyed anyway, so there was no need for me to be rude and erase his teachings myself.

I crawled out of the space and carefully replaced the stone I had removed.

There was still some time left before the agreed two hours, so I spent it reading the part about the final battle between the Heavenly Demon and the Great Evil Sect Master.

The Heavenly Demon’s Secret Demonic Soul was depicted in the fight between the Great Evil Sect Master and the Heavenly Demon. Since it was drawn by members of the Unorthodox sect, the Secret Demonic Soul was portrayed as a demon.

I stared intently at the Secret Demonic Soul.

One can manifest the Secret Demonic Soul upon achieving complete mastery over the Nine Calamities Demon Art.

I wondered if I could eventually manifest a Secret Demonic Soul. What form would my Secret Demonic Soul take? Would it appear as large as the one depicted here, or in a smaller form?

Just thinking about it made my heart race.

At that moment.

Swwik. I had the illusion that the Secret Demonic Soul in the painting was looking at me.

Startled, I looked back at the Secret Demonic Soul, but it remained exactly as it was in the painting.

This was actually the second time I experienced this.

Previously, when my father pressured me with demonic energy, I had felt the sensation of something enormous staring at me from the abyss.

It felt exactly the same now.

Was I seeing illusions because of my desperate desire for the Nine Calamities Demon Art?

“Next time, let’s see each other when I manifest you, not in a painting.”

After saying goodbye to the Secret Demonic Soul, I left the Cave of Ten Thousand Evils.

Bih Sa-in was waiting outside. He looked at me with curious eyes. However, at his level, he couldn’t notice any changes.

“I read it well. Truly a place worthy of being called a sacred ground. The Great Evil Sect Master is truly an incredible person.”

“Don’t think of coming again.”

“To you, it’s a sacred ground; to me, it’s just a stifling underground cave. Once is enough. Let’s go.”

We exited through the pond we had entered through.

Emerging beneath the waterfall, we flew up to the cliff. Unlike me, who soared up in one go, he had to kick off the cliff once to ascend.

We started running towards the main base of the Unorthodox Alliance.

After running without rest, we decided to take a short break. While sitting side by side on a hill, Bih Sa-in spoke worriedly.

“By now, it must be quite chaotic. The heir of the Unorthodox Alliance is missing. And with the Heavenly Demon’s child, no less.”

“It might not be as bad as you think.”

Bih Sa-in looked at me and asked,

“Why do you think that?”

“Sir Soma would have given Ilrang a hint. Nothing dangerous would have happened, so there’s no need to make a fuss.”

“Did you tell the Evil Smiling Demon to do that?”

I shook my head.

“Sometimes, there are things you understand without having to say them, don’t you think?”

“It’s my first time being apart from the Thirteen Wolves since becoming the heir. Yet, I can’t predict how they will move at all.”

He couldn’t hide his bitter expression. I felt a bit guilty for having induced their division.

“How does it feel to be alone?”

“I’m not sure yet. I thought it would be very uncomfortable, but it’s not as uncomfortable or unsettling as I expected.”

“That’s because you’re with me. I have a knack for making people feel at ease.”

Bih Sa-in looked bewildered by my brazen words. Spending time with him allowed me to read his subtle facial expressions. Initially, his face seemed to have a constant, mashed expression, but upon closer inspection, there were differences.

“I can read your expressions now, Bih Sa-in.”

When I mentioned his expressions, he flinched. Just as the Evil Smiling Demon had his mask, Bih Sa-in had his scars, which were his reverse scale. However, I didn’t hesitate to touch on that topic.

“Later, when you find a trustworthy subordinate, show them your expressions in detail. Only then will they be able to read your emotions. Ironically, the closer someone is to you and the more they respect you, the harder it may be for them to read your expressions. Don’t make that mistake.” 3

“Why are you giving me this advice?”

“Because I want the Unorthodox Alliance to function well. I want the balance between our cult, your alliance, and the Murim Alliance to be maintained. If that balance collapses… you know what will happen.”

“Is that really all?”

“Do you think I was taught to trust people? Still, when it’s time to trust, I do.”

“I don’t understand why you’re taking such risks.”

“The reason is simple. He tried to kill us. He tried to use Soma-nim. We have plenty of reasons to kill him. But don’t expect us to help you all the way. We’re not revenge-crazed wanderers; if the situation seems wrong, we’ll withdraw immediately. This is ultimately your problem, Bih Sa-in.”

Bih Sa-in seemed deeply troubled.

“I’m not sure what to do. Honestly, I’m a bit confused.”

The Bih Sa-in I first met and the one now were definitely different. Wounded pride often blinds people. But now, Bih Sa-in’s determination to overcome reality was stronger than his pride.

“Isn’t it simple?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just repay them in kind. He tried to kill you, so you should kill him. He didn’t try to seize power by killing the leader of the Unorthodox Alliance but by killing you, the heir. So, you should kill his grandson. Abandon your fear and reverence for Seok Gwan-chu. He’s just a vile old man hungry for power. Forget about evidence and everything else, just kill him.”

Bih Sa-in nodded vigorously.

“You’re right. This was indeed a simple problem.”

It seemed like something that had been blocking him was finally cleared.

“I will kill them all. Anyone who stands in my way, I will kill them too.”

“Of course, you should. Don’t complicate a simple problem.”

After staring at me for a moment, Bih Sa-in asked,

“Can you read my expression now?”

“I can.”

“What does it show?”

“You’re happy.”

“I didn’t know I had expressions.”

“You didn’t know?”

“I didn’t. Everyone was too busy avoiding my face.”

“It wasn’t everyone, it was you. Stop breaking mirrors from now on.”

A deeper smile spread across the face that would have normally been angry. After staring at his face for a while, I stood up first.

“Come on, let’s run!”

1 : Dundun Title drop

2 : I think he planned this for those who would be truly respectful and grateful. The placement is too coincidental for it to be fortuitous.

3 : Like how his past self was too scared to see Cheom Woojin for who he really was.

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