Absolute Regression

“Do you feel those gazes?”

Lee Ahn and I were at an inn. People had gathered around her, sitting close to her. The opposite side was completely empty, yet people sat on our side.

They were all subtly moving their seats to catch a better glimpse of her face.

I whispered to Lee Ahn.

“The guy on the left glanced at you six times, and that guy on the right pretended not to look but peeked seven times. The one next to him is completely lost in a daze. Oh, stop looking! Pay attention to the girl next to you! Ouch, that must hurt.”

Just then, a guest entered. The man, looking for a place to sit, widened his eyes as he saw Lee Ahn. Mesmerized, he walked towards her and tripped over a table.

No one paid attention to him, and he quickly got up. He then sat in the best spot to see Lee Ahn. The man next to him was pouring a drink, oblivious to his overflowing cup.

“How do you feel?”

“Great!”

“You probably wanted to tease me by seeing me embarrassed, making me sit here without a mask, but your plan failed. I’m loving this.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“I told you I have many hidden sides, right? I can pretend to be embarrassed as much as I want, but I can also enjoy this attention fully.”

Lee Ahn gave a slight smile to the onlookers. Exclamations of awe erupted from all around.

She whispered.

“And the guy on the left looked at me eight times, not six.”

This is why I liked Lee Ahn. She was flexible. She knew when to show her intelligence and when to hide it.

Despite the lifelong side effects of the Full Body Petrification Technique, she always lived confidently. She had scars but also dignity.

“Alright, we’ve enjoyed the inn enough, so let’s go buy some veils.”

“Veils?”

“You can’t wear a mask all the time, right? Save the mask for when you really need it, and wear a veil normally.”

“I was thinking of doing that anyway. Save some money.”

“Buy it with your money!”

“Aww, buy it for me!”

Her cute plea made some people faint, and her request for me to buy it made others clutch their coin pouches.

When she and I stood up, disappointment and sighs swept through the room. Envious and jealous gazes were directed at me intensely. Among them were looks urging me to buy the veil for her.

She and I left the inn and walked together. The white mask dangled from her waist.

“In the future, there will be people blatantly coveting your beauty. There will be all kinds of people. Some will try to get you with force, some with drugs. There will be all sorts of scoundrels.”

I admitted it. Whether it was my intention or unconscious, I delayed treating her with the Divine Poison Purification Technique for these reasons. Because I didn’t want to worry.

However, now that I had used the Divine Poison Purification Technique, it didn’t mean I was no longer worried. I would just manage my worries in a different way.

“You need to have the strength to protect yourself from such people. I intend to train you to the level where you can confront the Demon Supremes.”

I had that thought in mind when I treated her.

Lee Ahn didn’t display unnecessary humility. It wasn’t just any martial art; receiving the Soaring Sword Art meant she had to aim to surpass the Demon Supremes.

“I will try harder so as not to worry you.”

“Don’t overdo it. You’re already trying hard enough.”

She smiled, and only the heart of the daydreaming fruit shop’s bachelor clerk fluttered.

We went to a cloth shop, and I bought her a bamboo hat with a veil. Though it had the advantage of completely covering her face, she refused after trying it on.

“This is too uncomfortable. The field of vision is too narrow, making it vulnerable to ambushes. I think I need to be more skilled to use this.”

“Then let’s just buy a veil for now.”

I bought her a veil that covered below her eyes, like a mask.

The veil alone couldn’t conceal her beauty, but it was better than nothing.

“When I create the Haunted Shade Corps uniforms later, I’ll make the masks really cool.”

Imagining her wearing the mask with its unique ghost pattern, she would look truly mysterious and cool. If Cheong Myeon saw it, he wouldn’t be able to handle it, would he?

She stopped at every place where she could see her reflection.

Although she didn’t fully express it, how happy must she be right now?

Enjoy it, Lee Ahn!

“Where are we going now?”

“How about some mountain climbing?”

“Mountain climbing?”

“Your body is lighter now, so let’s climb a mountain. Come on, run.”

We ran for a long time using light-footed martial arts until we reached a place beneath a rugged cliff.

“Step where I step!”

Following me up the cliff with light-footed martial arts, she couldn’t say a word. It was her first time climbing such a steep cliff.

Only when we reached the top did she let out a sigh of relief.

“To be honest, I was really scared coming up.”

Even though her swordsmanship had reached a high level, her light-footed martial arts skills were not quite there yet.

“If I fall, I’ll die, right?”

“A true master wouldn’t die. With your swordsmanship skills, you shouldn’t die.”

“What should I do if I do fall?”

“You need to stay alert and try to slow your fall in any way possible.”

Of course, for someone like me, I’d use my internal energy to land lightly just before hitting the ground, but for Lee Ahn, that would be too much for now. She’d have to slow her fall as much as possible from the top, even if it meant exhausting her internal energy.

“You know it as well, but being good at swordsmanship alone isn’t enough to survive. You need to be good at light-footed martial arts, have a lot of guts, good judgment, and be able to read people well.”

“Ah! The greenhouse was warm.”

Her joke about living comfortably under my and the Cult’s protection wasn’t something I agreed with.

She had never been in a greenhouse. The psychological wounds from the side effects of her martial arts, not being able to sleep properly to guard me, where could it be called a greenhouse? Even after I regressed, she couldn’t sleep well because of her training.

“Is it spring outside the greenhouse? Or is it winter?”

“The martial world has never once been spring.”

“Like this scary cliff.”

She looked down the cliff. I whispered in her ear.

“Remember what I told you earlier? What to do if you fall.”

“Of course. Stay alert and slow my fall.”

“That’s good.”

The next moment, I pushed her off the cliff. 1

“Aaaaaaah!”

With a desperate scream, she fell.

I jumped after her.

I thought she would fall chaotically, but Lee Ahn was struggling to maintain her balance and trying to slow her descent.

However, lacking experience, she was putting too much strength into her body and wasting her internal energy.

I accelerated and caught her mid-air.

She finally felt relieved once she was in my arms.

“Hang on to me.”

“Yes.”

Then, I demonstrated how to slow down using my legs and arms, making sure she saw it. Even with her in my arms, we quickly reduced speed.

Lee Ahn, clinging to me, watched every move without missing a single one.

While descending, I aimed for the cliffside. There was a small cave midway.

When we landed there, Lee Ahn finally shouted.

“I really thought I was going to die!”

“Liar. You knew I’d save you, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes, but I was still really shocked. The falling speed was much faster than I expected, and I couldn’t keep my balance.”

“The more you fall, the more you’ll get used to it, and eventually, you’ll be able to keep your balance.”

“Yes. I remembered exactly how you did it.”

“That’s good.”

“But I didn’t know there was a cave in a place like this.”

“Remember this location. If you ever get chased in this area, you can hide here.”

“How did you know about this place?”

“Do you think this is the only cave I know about?”

“Of course not. So, I won’t ask anymore. But why did we come here?”

“I’m going to open your Ren and Du meridians now.”

It wasn’t said in a tone that suggested something important was about to happen, so at first, she just blinked. Then her eyes gradually widened in surprise, which became even greater than when I told her I’d use the Divine Poison Purification Technique. At least that had been announced beforehand; this was completely unexpected.

Ren-Du Meridians Opening.

It was something that one must go through to become a true master, but only a very few martial artists could experience this supreme opportunity.

This process was extremely dangerous and difficult, and many who attempted it recklessly ended up dead. Moreover, the person performing the opening could also die from their qi and blood flowing backward.

There’s no need to look far. When we, the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon, were young, we had our Ren and Du meridians opened. I vividly remember how much my brother scared me when it was my turn. He hoped I’d succumb to fear and fall into a qi deviation, but I succeeded in opening my Ren and Du meridians safely.

In any case, opening the Ren and Du meridians should never be done recklessly or received carelessly. That’s why the old masters of prestigious sects risk their lives to do it only for the legitimate successors of their sects.

“Are you really going to open my Ren and Du meridians?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you so good to me… Oh, right, you told me not to ask. This must be one of those questions.”

I had told her not to ask questions when I finished teaching her the Divine Poison Purification Technique.

“It’s a gift. A present to celebrate your new life.”

Lee Ahn couldn’t find the words to say.

Tears welled up in her eyes again.

“I’m someone who hates crying, but you keep making me cry, Young Master.”

“This isn’t something to cry about.”

“You’re right, I’m happy. I’m so happy I feel like flying.”

“Alright, shall we start? Just in case anything goes wrong, say your final words.”

“Please tell our Young Master that I’m sorry I couldn’t serve him to the end.”

“I’ll scold your Young Master. He’s been hogging you too much.”

“It won’t be easy to scold him. He’s getting stronger by the day.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her words.

“Alright, let’s start with breathing exercises.”

She sat in a cross-legged position and began to regulate her breathing and circulate her qi. When her energy completed a small circulation, I injected my powerful internal energy into her back.

Slowly, I moved my internal energy along her meridians.

“From now on, you don’t need to respond to me. No matter what happens, you mustn’t scream or stop circulating your qi. You can’t lose consciousness either.”

As she regulated her breathing and focused her mind, the speed of my internal energy moving along her meridians increased.

The Ren meridian starts from the lips, goes down through the chest and abdomen, and reaches the perineum. The Du meridian starts from the perineum, goes up the tailbone and spine, passes through the Baihui point, and returns to the lips. The most critical moment is breaking through the Baihui point on the crown of the head. If something goes wrong at the Baihui point, one can become a cripple or lose their life.

I knew well that it’s best to finish it in one go rather than dragging it out. My pure and profound internal energy forcefully pushed through her meridians.

There was nothing to worry about. It was me, not someone else, who was performing this meridian opening.

Swiftly, I pierced through various points: Shengzhang, Yingtang, Shenque, Yutang, Zhongwan… It was like a landslide clearing away all the debris, unblocking the impurities that clogged her veins.

Lee Ahn struggled with the unfamiliar pain, but she was no stranger to enduring suffering.

Even though it seemed reckless to push so hard, hesitating would only cause problems. If it didn’t break through in one go, it would need to be attempted again and again, leading to even more violent impacts.

I broke through Yangguan, Yinjiao, Shenzhu, Yamen, Naohu, and Houzheng. Thus, all the other meridians were unblocked, reaching the critical juncture.

‘Trust me, Lee Ahn.’

‘I trust you.’

‘Now!’

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

We successfully pierced through the difficult Baihui point and cleared the remaining meridians, opening her Ren and Du meridians.

As Lee Ahn slowly collapsed to the side, a smile formed on her lips.

‘Well done, Lee Ahn.’

Lee Ahn slept for half a day before waking up.

“Young Master? How did it go?”

“Alright, try regulating your qi and breathing.”

With a tense expression, Lee Ahn sat down and began her breathing exercises. Her face lit up brightly after completing a small circulation.

“It’s different, completely different from before. My internal energy has become much purer, and the flow of qi is smooth.”

“Congratulations, Lee Ahn.”

When she abruptly stood up to bow to me, I used my internal energy to stop her.

“I’ve told you before, right? I did this to make you more useful to me, so there’s no need to thank me.”

“How much more useful do you want me to be? I owe you enough to unify the martial world.”

“Let’s start with a meal before unifying the martial world. Are you hungry?”

“I’m so hungry I could raid the Martial Alliance kitchen.”

Standing in front of the cave, she shouted.

“I’ve opened my Ren and Du meridians… Aaaaaah!” 2

I pushed Lee Ahn from behind again. Watching her fall, this time less clumsily, I jumped off the cliff too.

After an hour, Lee Ahn and I were eating at an inn in the marketplace again.

We ordered all sorts of delicious food and ate together, ignoring the stares of other customers.

“This is really delicious.”

“Let’s travel around and try all the famous dishes in the Central Plains.”

“What if I get fat again?”

“You won’t be able to even if you want to. Once we return to the Cult, you’ll be thrown into a training hell until you master the Soaring Sword Art.”

“Oh, let’s never go back then!”

Although she said something she didn’t mean, she was thoroughly enjoying the moment.

At that moment, a young man started walking toward us, pushing through the crowd.

He was quite handsome, wearing expensive and fancy clothes, and had four martial artists who seemed to be his bodyguards trailing behind him. 3

Lee Ahn whispered like casting a spell.

“Don’t come, don’t come. I just want to eat in peace.”

I smiled at her.

This is something you’ll experience countless times in the future. So, how will you handle it?

The man approached Lee Ahn and, with a confident face, politely said.

“Miss, may I offer you a drink?”

Alright, Lee Ahn. This is just the beginning.

1 : This is SPARTAAAA !!!!!

2 : So cruel !!!! Poor Lee Ahn XDXDXD

3 : A Trash (?) Young Master !!! That makes Lee Ahn the jade beauty and Mugeuk the righteous (?) protagonist !!!

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