Absolute Regression

As the woman approached, Seo Daeryong was flustered.

“Uh, uh? She’s coming toward us?”

“See, I told you.”

“She’s coming because you waved at her. She’ll probably say, ‘Why did you call me?’ Isn’t that right? And then you should respond like this: ‘I called you over to tease this friend here.’”

As the woman drew nearer, Seo Daeryong’s eyes grew hazy, and his mouth gradually opened. She was wearing a veil, which only added to her mysterious aura. To Seo Daeryong’s eyes, she seemed like a fairy descending from the heavens.

Of course, it was Lee Ahn. She stopped right in front of the two of them.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Lee Ahn.

“I told him I was coming with you, but he didn’t believe me.”

Lee Ahn smiled with her eyes and spoke to Seo Daeryong.

Lee Ahn disguised her voice to hide her original one.

Surprised that the woman recognized him, Seo Daeryong sent a voice transmission to Geom Mugeuk.

—How does she know me?

—I told her.

—How? Why? You’ve never mentioned knowing such a beauty! With your personality, you would have boasted for sure! You have a strong heart, a good right arm, but the most beautiful face! 1

As Seo Daeryong busily sent voice transmissions to me, Lee Ahn smiled and spoke.

“You’re the leader’s right arm?”

At that moment, Seo Daeryong’s face lit up with uncontrollable joy. This right arm position was indeed precious and highly coveted by many.

“Oh, did he even tell you that?”

Despite his embarrassment, Seo Daeryong’s shoulders were lifting toward the sky.

“He told me this as well.”

“What did he say?”

“That you have a ruthless personality driven by power, but you are a tough guy who loves only one woman. You’re a rebel who raises his hand alone while everyone else remains silent, a pacifist, and someone who makes life-changing decisions with a single drink at an inn.” 2

Seo Daeryong was astonished. The beautiful woman in front of him was reciting all the words he used to say jokingly. He looked at Geom Mugeuk with a dumbfounded expression.

“You introduced me in such detail.”

“And I also heard you hold regular drinking meetings.”

“Did he mention that too?”

Seo Daeryong was bewildered. This beauty knew too many details about him.

‘Why did the leader tell her so much about me?’

But he wasn’t displeased. How could it be unpleasant for such a rare beauty to know so much about him?

He was always confident.

He believed that if someone tried to use their beauty to deceive him, he would never fall for it. He lived with the mindset that the heart was what mattered, not appearances. Especially in the martial arts world, where those who used techniques like Joo An-sul to disguise their age and drain the life force of others roamed openly, he was even more cautious.

But seeing the woman before him, he realized it would be hard to resist if such a woman decided to seduce him intentionally. Even though she had no relation to him, he found himself wanting to make a good impression.

“Do you no longer hold drinking meetings these days?”

“One person dropped out, so I’ve postponed it for a while.”

Seo Daeryong, realizing something, asked Geom Mugeuk belatedly.

“Oh! What about Lee Ahn, where is she?”

“You’re asking quite late.”

Geom Mugeuk’s expression quickly turned gloomy.

“You won’t be able to see her anymore.”

Seo Daeryong was startled.

“Why?”

“…”

“Don’t tell me? Did something go wrong?”

“What if that was the case?”

“Why are you doing this? Don’t joke like this. Other jokes are fine, but don’t joke like this with me. It won’t work on me.”

“I’m not joking. You won’t see Lee Ahn anymore.”

Seo Daeryong stared at Geom Mugeuk and then laughed.

“Shall I tell you the decisive reason why this joke won’t work?”

“What is it?”

“Because of you, leader.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Something happening to Lee Ahn while she was with you is just impossible.”

Then, suddenly, Seo Daeryong thought of something.

“Ah, now that I think about it, leader, that’s too much.”

“What now?”

The next words were sent via voice transmission.

—You met such a beauty, and you immediately abandoned our heart? As a fellow man, I understand, but you can’t do that to her. She always thinks of you. Where is she? Don’t tell me you sent her to train as soon as she arrived? If you did, I’d be so disappointed in you.

—Hey, let me speak.

—Never mind. Hand her over! No, I will go find her myself.

Seo Daeryong smiled and asked Lee Ahn.

“Have you seen a lady warrior with a bit of a robust build?”

“Oh, yes, I have.”

Seo Daeryong, with an expression of ‘I knew it,’ said to Geom Mugeuk.

—This kind of joke doesn’t work. I was the top entrant at the Underworld Pavilion. And from now on, I will call you ‘Colorful Leader’.

—What did I do?

—You abandoned our Lee Ahn and brought this beauty! Oh, it’s so unfair. Now I even dislike this innocent beauty for no reason.

Seo Daeryong greeted Lee Ahn.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

As he started to walk towards Lee Ahn’s quarters, Seo Daeryong sighed inwardly.

‘Ah, I didn’t even ask her name. Well, it’s not like I’ll see her again anyway.’

Just then, Lee Ahn spoke from behind.

“She’s not at the training hall right now.”

“What?”

How did this woman know he was about to search the training hall first?

As Seo Daeryong was taken aback, Geom Mugeuk said something even more startling.

“I told her everything you just sent me via voice transmission.”

Seo Daeryong was shocked.

—Why?

—Talk to me instead of sending voice transmissions.

Seo Daeryong looked confused and said,

“Why? Why send her voice transmissions? No matter how beautiful she is, you weren’t like this, leader. You’ve really changed.”

Then Lee Ahn spoke.

“I’ve changed too, haven’t I?”

What strange thing was she saying now? While Seo Daeryong blinked in confusion, Lee Ahn pulled out a dagger from her bosom.

It was the very dagger made from melting the Millennial Cold Iron shackles of Gowol.

Seeing the dagger, Seo Daeryong was alarmed and confronted Geom Mugeuk.

“Why does she have that dagger?”

Looking at Geom Mugeuk with suspicious eyes, Seo Daeryong was startled.

“Don’t tell me you took Lee Ahn’s dagger and gave it to this lady? That’s not right, is it? This dagger is yours, right?”

“My dagger is right here. That one is Lee Ahn’s.”

Geom Mugeuk showed his own dagger, and Seo Daeryong shouted in disbelief.

“This is too much! I can’t believe you did this!”

For the first time, Seo Daeryong was furious with Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk just smiled. His smile only made Seo Daeryong angrier.

“What happened out there? Have you gone mad with lust? These daggers were distributed among those who were there that day. Though it was given by you, it holds great significance for all of us! And you took Lee Ahn’s dagger to give to that woman? Who will you give the next one to? Here, take mine in advance. No, you can’t have it. I’ll give my dagger to Lee Ahn.”

“I didn’t know you cared so much about Lee Ahn.”

“She’s a friend I can share my true feelings with. She’s my drinking buddy.”

Just then, Lee Ahn said.

“Let’s go, have a drink.”

Seo Daeryong was startled. He couldn’t immediately say no. Still, he gritted his teeth and declined.

“Now is a bit difficult.”

Seo Daeryong sighed inwardly.

‘To refuse a drink with the most beautiful woman I’ll ever meet in my life! Why did I have to meet her in such a situation? Ah, could there be a more unfortunate life?’

But Lee Ahn came first, no matter how beautiful this stranger was.

“I have to take care of my abandoned drinking buddy first. See you.” 3

“Thank you for thinking of me so much.”

Seo Daeryong looked at Lee Ahn with a puzzled expression.

Lee Ahn removed her veil. In that moment, it seemed like her face was emitting light.

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened at the revealed beautiful face, but he quickly hardened his expression. This wasn’t the time to be admiring beauty.

“Even so, I can’t go! I won’t go!”

“You promised we’d drink all night when I came back, remember?”

“What?”

“It’s me. Lee Ahn.”

Seo Daeryong, caught in a whirlwind of confusion, blinked rapidly.

“We promised to go see the autumn leaves on Daecheon Mountain with Commander Jang and drink, and in winter, we’d drink while watching the snow, remember?”

When Lee Ahn spoke in her original voice, Seo Daeryong was startled.

“The voice is right? Is it really you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“… No, it can’t be.”

“I’ll tell you everything while we drink with Leader Jang.”

Since it was Lee Ahn speaking, Seo Daeryong finally realized it was her.

“You really are Lee Ahn!”

Seo Daeryong looked to Geom Mugeuk for final confirmation. Geom Mugeuk nodded once.

“What did you say earlier? Colorful Leader? Mad with lust?”

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

Still bewildered, Seo Daeryong saw Geom Mugeuk smiling at him.

“It’s fine. You did well. You scored big points with Lee Ahn today.”

Then Lee Ahn said loudly,

“Today, the drinks are on me till the end.”

“Woohoo! That’s great!”

Lee Ahn looked at Geom Mugeuk and asked,

“Can we go drink now? With Leader Jang too?”

Her face showed how much she wanted to talk about how hard the Divine Poison Purification Technique was, and how wonderful and fun the journey had been, making Geom Mugeuk smile.

“Drink to your heart’s content today, I’ll pay the tab!”

“”Hurray!!!””

As Geom Mugeuk watched the excited backs of Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong, he slowly walked towards the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

* * *

The Heavenly Demon Pavilion remained unchanged.

Beyond the Path of Blood, my father was seated on the Celestial Zenith Throne. I slowly walked along the red carpet towards where my father was.

Seeing my father again made me so happy. Who would have thought I’d be so glad to see that stern expression and gaze?

“Father, have you been well? I thought I’d die without seeing you.”

I bowed deeply to my father.

“It seems like you’ve returned from a war.”

“It was a big war.”

“That’s what happens when you unnecessarily get involved in the Unorthodox Alliance’s matters.”

“It wasn’t unnecessary. At least I judged that Bih Sa-in would be easier for us to control than Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson.”

Normally, saying he was the better person would have been more accurate, but I said easier to control. My father hated and was cautious of making premature evaluations of people.

“It would have been more advantageous for us if Seok Gwan-chu’s grandson became the successor.”

“Why is that?”

“That guy is much more greedy.”

“But wouldn’t that make the martial world more chaotic?”

“What does that have to do with us?”

I knew those words were sincere. The more chaotic the martial world, the more powerful our Cult became.

Father, even so, we can’t keep growing stronger by feeding on blood forever, can we?

“Why didn’t you come back immediately? Weren’t you worried about your brother taking control of the Demon Supremes?”

“I was worried.”

“Then why?”

“I didn’t intend to make all the Demon Supremes mine in the first place.”

“Why?”

“Because then my brother would be cornered.”

“!”

“And he would eventually make an irreversible, terrible choice. A choice I couldn’t just overlook. Didn’t I tell you that the bloodshed over succession would stop with my generation?”

My father couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Did you really think that far ahead just to give him a breathing space?”

“I had to. If I think about how great and significant it is to win through fighting, I must think deeper and farther than that. I will fight using my head, even boasting to you like this.”

My father silently stared at me. I also quietly looked at him.

“I have one question for you.”

“What is it?”

“When Seok Gwan-chu or his master Baek Mang-gi moved, did you worry about me at all?”

“I didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you? Did you trust me that much?”

“It’s not you I trusted. I trusted Soma.”

“You trusted the Evil Smiling Demon?”

“Yes, because if he was by your side, I believed it would be a fight worth considering. I trusted his judgment.”

“Please trust your son more in the future.”

“If I had based it on you, our Cult would have had to dispatch to rescue you.”

“Ah! When will I ever become a son worthy of your trust?”

My exaggerated words were met with my father’s unchanged expression, still thinking it was nonsense. I thought that maybe even if I became an immortal ascended to heaven, my father would still look at me with that expression. And as he watched me ascend, he’d probably say, ‘Don’t trust the immortals!’ 4

“Go and rest.”

“Then I will take my leave.”

As I turned to leave, my father spoke from behind.

“Welcome back.”

At that moment, my chest tightened. Those few words were what I had longed to hear from my father more than any other.

I turned towards him and silently bowed my head.

Thank you so much for steadfastly holding your place, Father. It’s good to be home.

After leaving the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, I headed towards the person I wanted to see most after my father.

1 : The most beautiful face is also the most precious heart ^^

2 : Overall, a description you can be proud of.

3 : Seo Daeryong speaking

4 : Lol, I can see it too XDXDXD

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