Absolute Regression

In the flowing silence, the Great Drunken Demon noticed one thing.

“Did you already know?”

“I suspected it might be possible. The brother I know wouldn’t send a broken bottle to the Great Drunken Demon.”

“I thought you two didn’t get along?”

“Don’t we always know more about the people we dislike than the ones we’re close to?”

Song Sa-hyuk, who had been staring at me, suddenly stood up.

“Ah, I feel the intoxication rising.”

Then he promptly threw himself into the lake.

“Please, get rid of that habit of swimming after drinking!”

Contrary to my worries, the Great Drunken Demon swam very well. Not only was he skilled, but he seemed to enjoy swimming. He dived underwater, floated while looking at the sky, sped off into the distance and back, and even jumped out of the water like a dolphin before diving back in.

After a while of swimming energetically, the Great Drunken Demon climbed back into the boat.

“Finally, the alcohol is starting to wear off.”

And then he drank again.

“Do you sober up just to drink more?”

“Isn’t that why I sober up?”

I shouted to Lyu Bin, who was standing on the far shore of the lake.

“Please bring us some snacks!”

Lyu Bin, as if waiting, brought the boat over with the snacks. They had been prepared earlier, but it seemed the Great Drunken Demon had only brought the alcohol. As she handed over the snacks and left, Lyu Bin bowed slightly to express her gratitude.

“Try to get into the habit of eating snacks.”

“I’ve never eaten them my whole life; it’s not easy to start now.”

“Do you only do what you want to do? Sometimes you have to do what you don’t like.”

“Why do you care so much about my health?”

I picked up some snacks with my chopsticks. They were warm, likely kept heated for this moment.

“Am I the only one who cares about you, Great Drunken Demon? Here, have some.”

Reluctantly, the Great Drunken Demon ate the snacks.

We drank together and looked up at the night sky.

“Ah, this is great!”

It really was as wonderful as the Great Drunken Demon said. Drinking while looking at the stars with the boat floating on the lake felt like a scene even immortals would envy.

Song Sa-hyuk, lying down and gazing at the stars, spoke.

“Drinking and playing is my dream. If the Great Demon War breaks out, this lake might turn into a bloody sea. Then how would I sober up?”

The name of the poison weapon hanging from the Great Drunken Demon’s waist was Blood Tears. He was saying this while wearing a weapon named after blood and tears.

“Are you serious?”

“It’s true. I want to live like this my whole life and then die.”

“Is that really why you want to become my person?”

“That’s right.”

“Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Make peace with Gu Cheonpa.”

Song Sa-hyuk flinched, as if taken aback by the unexpected suggestion.

“I’m serious, too. From now on, you need to make an effort to become my person. If you reconcile with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and maintain a harmonious relationship with the Evil Smiling Demon…”

After finishing off the remaining alcohol, I spoke to him.

“Then I’ll consider you my sworn brother.”

Another silence ensued.

After staring at me for a moment, the Great Drunken Demon finally spoke.

“You really are an unpredictable person.”

“The unpredictable one is you, Song Sa-hyuk. You’re surrounded by all sorts of prejudices. I, on the other hand, am reasonable. We’re just exchanging what we both want.”

I took a refreshing gulp of alcohol, put the bottle down, and asked,

“Were you joking about becoming sworn brothers with me?”

“I wasn’t joking.”

“Becoming sworn brothers with someone is a serious matter. You need to show at least this much sincerity. Ah, this person is really doing something he doesn’t want to do for me. He’s doing something he truly dislikes. Eating snacks, making peace. What can’t be said with words? I could even win over the leader of the Murim Alliance to my side.”

“If it’s you, you probably could.” 1

I gave a hollow laugh, and the Great Drunken Demon drank.

“It’s not that I don’t want to make peace.”

“Then what is it?”

“Making peace with the Blade Demon is fundamentally impossible. Have you ever seen oil and water mix?”

“They don’t need to mix. Just floating together is enough.”

“What if someone sets fire to it?”

“Then it burns. If you really don’t like it, be the water. Make Gu Cheonpa the oil. He’s already a fiery person, so let him be the oil.”

He usually laughed at most jokes, but this time he didn’t. He clearly didn’t like it.

From the way he acted with me, I thought he’d at least pretend to laugh and appease old man Blade

I understood why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon disliked Song Sa-hyuk. He hated people who drank and caused trouble.

But why did the Great Drunken Demon find this reconciliation so burdensome?

“Is there another reason you approached me? Forget the nonsense about peace in the martial world and tell me the real reason.”

He should have been angry at my blunt words, but the Great Drunken Demon just drank with his drunken eyes.

“One brother is enough for me.”

I leaped towards the boat I had come on.

He could have stopped me, but in the end, he said nothing. As I docked the boat at the lakeshore, I looked back at him. The Great Drunken Demon was drinking alone under the moonlight.

* * *

At dawn the next day, I quietly left the Cult.

I left a note for Seo Daeryong saying I would be away for a few days.

Ever since my Wind God’s Four Steps reached the Eight Star level, my body had been constantly itching, and I couldn’t stay still. I tossed and turned all night, wanting to fight strong opponents, but what I wanted even more was to run.

I knew I had to manage this desire carefully. Especially with such an extremely advanced martial art like Wind God’s Four Steps, I had to be particularly cautious.

Mismanaging this desire could lead to inner demons or reckless fights that might result in death. This often happened when someone unfit tried to master a martial art beyond their capability.

After leaving the cult, I started running using the Starlight Step. I ran with incredible speed. I didn’t even need to wear a mask to hide my identity.

I was running so fast that it was hard for anyone to recognize me or even realize if what just passed by was a person, a bird, a ghost, or an illusion. I was fast before at the Seven Star level, but this was entirely different.

Normally, such speed was only possible in open areas like plains.

But now, I was running on a path with obstacles. There were passing carriages, people, trees, rocks, pits, rivers, cliffs.

However, thanks to the New Eye Technique, I could run at this speed on any path.

Moreover, at the Eight Star level, my internal energy consumption decreased. I could use my martial arts more efficiently.

I ran until my internal energy was depleted, then practiced energy cultivation before running again. I had never run so joyfully in my life. Maybe it was because my destination was where people I wanted to see were.

* * *

In a bustling tavern, the previous leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and Gowol were seated. Several people came and went at intervals to report something. There were men, women, young people, and older individuals.

Each time they left, Gowol recorded something on paper.

“What are you writing so meticulously for? They’ll know you’re working even without a report,” tiredly said Jeong Dae.

Ignoring his comment, Gowol continued drafting a letter. It was to be sent to Geom Mugeuk.

Gowol was focused on establishing an information network in the Central Plains under Geom Mugeuk’s orders. Thanks to the Heavenly Wind Cult former Leader accompanying him, things were progressing smoothly.

In the course of their work, Jeong Dae was once again impressed by Gowol’s abilities. He was organizing a new structure that operated differently from the existing Heavenly Communication Pavilion, and he was planning it in a way that they could merge in the future. He was considering the time when Geom Mugeuk would become the Cult Leader.

This made the task more challenging, but Jeong Dae made the process smoother.

When the two worked together, everything progressed smoothly. Of course, Gowol had to endure the constant complaints of Jeong Dae.

“Send a hundred reports like that and see if you get a single reply from the Young Master.”

“This is a report. When do you ever get a reply to a report?”

“Why not? If there’s a will, there’s a way. Didn’t I tell you? We’ll end up being shackles to that cult leader. Look at us now. We’re suffering in foreign lands.”

“Eating all the delicacies from various regions, and sightseeing when we have time. Truly suffering.”

“Leaving home is always hard!”

“Where is this cult leader’s home anyway?”

Jeong Dae flinched for a moment. Gowol’s gaze shifted from what he was writing to him.

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult isn’t your home, is it? Your home is here in the Central Plains. You’ve been singing about advancing into the Central Plains. Look around carefully. You need to find a place to build your home here. Open your eyes wide and look!”

Having nothing else to say, Jeong Dae redirected his frustration back at Geom Mugeuk.

“Hmph! We need to build a home. Young Master has probably forgotten about us. If he sees us at the cult later, he’ll be startled inside. Ah! Right, among my many subordinates, there were these fools from the outside – the cult leader and the shackled guy. Oh, what was that shackle’s name again? No matter how different people are, in the end, everyone’s feelings are the same.”

“Jeong.”

“What?”

“Everyone is a past cult leader or shackle to someone. Only someone like Young Master is special to everyone. Most people live being moderately ignored. And becoming someone special is tiring. You, Dae, are more suited to living like this.”

“You’re belittling me again, aren’t you?”

Gowol pretended not to hear and focused on writing again.

“All day, you watched the Thunder Bell idly, and now you’re suddenly diligent. What’s so great about Geom Mugeuk that makes you act like this?”

“Then what’s so great about me that made you follow me here and suffer?”

Jeong Dae had no answer.

“I feel the same way. Why do I need a special reason? It’s just because it’s good. And after Young Master, it’s you. So don’t feel too bad.”

“Hmph! You only have two people around you, and if I’m second, doesn’t that make me last?”

“Oh, did you figure it out?”

“You crazy bastard!”

Gowol laughed, and Jeong Dae followed along.

This kind of conversation was their joy. They would tell the same stories over and over, badmouth Geom Mugeuk, talk about the past, and discuss what might happen in the future. Every day, they repeated the same routine.

“This is proof that you’re really close. You can tell the same stories again and again, and they’ll still listen comfortably. You can’t have these kinds of conversations with Young Master, can you? It’s awkward, right? That’s proof you’re not close to him. No, Young Master is too busy showing off everywhere to have time to listen to you anyway.”

Just then, someone suddenly spoke from behind Jeong Dae.

“So you really intend to badmouth me until the end.”

The former leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult turned around in surprise to find me standing there with a smile.

Both him and Gowol jumped up in shock.

“Young Master!”

“Young Master!”

Still smiling, I spoke to Jeong Dae.

“This is why I wanted to come here without warning.”

“Hmph! Did I say anything untrue? What of it?”

I felt a warm sense of familiarity from his unchanged demeanor.

I had run like mad to the place where the two of them were working. Thanks to the letters they sent about their location and the progress of their work, I could find them.

We caught up on all the missed conversations.

What was surprising was that Gowol already knew about the matters with the Evil Smiling Demon and the Great Drunken Demon, and that my brother was in contact with the Unbeatable Fist Demon and the Poison King.

This showed that the information network within the cult was already well established. The external network was also quickly expanding throughout the Central Plains.

“What about the financial situation?”

“Almost depleted.”

Hiring capable people and setting up the network required an enormous amount of money. Gowol had taken 1.2 million nyang, and in a few months it was already nearly gone. The initial cost of building the organization was immensely high.

“I’ll send additional funds soon.”

“Yes!”

Thanks to the money received from the Golden Manor, we still had sufficient funds for now, but we would need to earn more to operate the Haunted Shade Corps later on.

At that moment, my eyes met those of Jeong Dae, and he flinched in surprise.

“Why are you looking at me while talking about running out of money?”

“I just looked at you because I’m glad to see you after a long time. Why? Is there a problem?”

“It feels like a silent pressure to lend you money. Yes, that’s the look. The same sly look you had when you were after my treasured items before. No way. My money is off-limits!”

I burst out laughing.

“Thanks to that treasured item, I saved my life.”

The former leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was startled by my words.

“Really?”

“Yes. I survived because of the Supreme Heavenly Silk.”

“Ah!”

A hint of joy crossed Jeong Dae’s face. Despite his grumbling, his gaze held a much greater affection for me than before.

Former Cult Leader, money is not an issue. Let’s continue as we are. I know well what you sacrificed to come this far. Just being by Gowol’s side is enough for me to be grateful.

“Since I’ve seen your face, I should head back. I need to return by the morning after tomorrow.”

“The morning after tomorrow? What are you talking about? Do you know how far it is from here?”

“I came here in two days. I plan to shorten the time on my way back.”

Jeong Dae, looking incredulous, seized the opportunity to speak to Gowol.

“See? This is the real Young Master. Didn’t I say before that he’s a braggart? Now you see how good I am at judging people? Will you still disregard me?”

Gowol responded slyly.

“Are you sure it’s just a boast?”

Gowol’s face showed unwavering belief in me.

The former leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult raised his voice.

“Of course, it’s a boast! It would take ten days even if I ran nonstop from here to the cult grounds. Even if I ran myself.”

“You’re slow because you’ve gained weight, right?”

“What? Have you never seen me run? I am the former leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult!”

Jeong Dae challenged me.

“Two days? If you make it back to the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect in two days, I’ll give you a hundred thousand nyang. How about that? A bet with me for a hundred thousand nyang. You wouldn’t dare?” 2

The leader was confidently showing his arrogance. He believed it was absolutely impossible.

“Let’s do it, the bet.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Are you trying to repay me for saving your life with the Supreme Heavenly Silk by giving me money? There’s no need for that. I have plenty of money.”

“Thank you, but I don’t have the luxury to give you money. As you know, it’s costing a lot right now.”

“Alright, let’s do it! But I’m telling you, I won’t give you back a single penny. It’s no use complaining later!”

“That’s what I should say. Don’t come to me with excuses like medical expenses or retirement funds.”

“I have a lot of money! I’m the former leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult!”

“Very well. Once I arrive, I’ll send an official letter from the Cult to you here. Since it’s an official letter, it’ll be dated, and you can verify when I arrived later when you come back to the Cult”

“Don’t worry. There’ll be someone to confirm your arrival date. Don’t forget, it’s a hundred thousand nyang, Young Master.”

I stood up with a smile.

“I know well how much both of you are working hard for me. I am always grateful. See you later.”

As I turned to leave, Gowol quietly said,

“Congratulations on the hundred thousand nyang in advance.”

“Thank you.”

I could hear Jeong Dae grumbling behind me.

“What are you saying? You should be supporting me! With this attitude, even if Young Master gives me the hundred thousand nyang, I won’t share a penny!”

After parting ways with them, I started running back towards the cult.

The more I ran, the more accustomed I became to running, and I increased my speed even more. The faster I ran, the greater freedom I felt. I also felt a strong desire to achieve greatness.

Two days later, I was writing the letter at the main sect.

[Former Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, I will use the hundred thousand nyang well. Thank you, as always. Ah, and if you feel disappointed, how about trying for a day and a half next time…]

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1 : True, the only one he can’t get on his side is Hwa Moogi, for 3 reasons. First, because from what we know about this dude, he’s too much of a fanatic to stop for anyone. Two, Mugeuk wouldn’t really want to sympathize with him. Three, and most important, if he becomes an ally, we won’t get an epic final fight.

2 : He didn’t learn, never bet with an MC XDXDXD Still, it’s scary to think that Mugeuk manipulated the discussion to precisely obtain the money before he was even denied it. Big brain energy !!!

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