Absolute Regression

< Chapter 19: This Summer, We… >

Upon hearing the news that I had killed the Demonic Army Commander, Lee Ahn jumped up in shock. It didn’t matter to her how I had killed him.

“Why on earth did you do something so dangerous?”

She was so furious that she used the word ‘thing’ to describe my actions. She didn’t even seem to realize she had said ‘thing.’

“Do you think the Elder, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would just stand by when his brother is dead?”

“That’s why you need to train hard so they can’t touch me.”

“Even if I trained in seclusion for thirty years without breaks, I wouldn’t be able to stop them!”

“Then I’ll win. He’ll have died of old age by then.”

At my nonchalant response, Lee Ahn sighed deeply.

“Haha. Then you’ll lose weight, which is good.”

“Young master!”

Not only Lee Ahn, but the entire cult was in an uproar.

The impact was totally different from when the news that the disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had died by my hand spread.

I felt the change even on the way to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion at my father’s summons.

The way people looked at me had changed.

Many had expected that my brother would be the successor. But now things were beginning to show changes.

When I won the martial arts tournament, people were ecstatic, and it became a hot topic when I wished for a hunt. They were amazed at my courage when I killed the disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

And now, the Demonic Army Commander had fallen under my blade.

Lee Ahn said that everyone talked about me whenever they met. Everyone hated the Demonic Army Commander, who had caused many problems and deaths with his arrogance, so my popularity soared instantly.

Some martial artists even approached me to greet me.

Of course, no one directly said, “You did great” or “Well done.” They were afraid of the repercussions from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

They merely approached silently, cupping their fists and sending respectful gazes. I could feel their support from their eyes. Those who greeted me in this manner wanted me to be the successor.

I accepted each greeting by cupping my fists in return and headed to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

Inside the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, my father on the Celestial Zenith’s Throne, Strategist Advisor Sima Myung, and Gu Cheonpa, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, were waiting for me.

After greeting my father and Sima Myung first, I then greeted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“It’s been a while, elder.”

“How have you been, young master?”

Despite the gravity of his brother’s death, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon remained composed.

The peculiar, intense aura he had displayed when he visited me before was absent. It seemed he didn’t dare show such an aura in front of my father.

“What’s the story behind this incident?”

“I’ve written everything in the report.”

“I’d like to hear it directly from you.”

Despite being in front of my father, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon calmly insisted on speaking his piece. My father and Sima Myung seemed to think it was within his rights and did not interfere.

“Through our investigation, we uncovered your brother’s serious crimes. During the arrest, he attempted to kill me… I apologize for this, elder.”

“It’s fine. If my brother was guilty, he deserved punishment. But what I don’t understand is that, even if my brother was a pathetic fool, he wasn’t so stupid as to attack you when his guilt was evident.”

He assumed his brother would have been arrested peacefully and then sought help from him.

I had preemptively prevented that scenario.

“I don’t know why he acted as he did. Perhaps he couldn’t bear the thought of being captured by someone younger.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at me for a moment before speaking again.

“Before coming here, I saw the body. He was felled in a single blow?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t delve into the details of the fight, if that even counted as a fight. In disadvantageous situations, talking too much can lead to mistakes or reveal weaknesses. It was best to let the elder’s imagination fill in the gaps.

He couldn’t ask too many questions about the fight with my father watching. In the minds of our cult members, whether someone died from a stab to the back or the sole of their foot, the dead was lesser and weak and the one left alive was righteous and strong.

“Your martial skills are far superior to what I had imagined.”

“I guess I have my father to thank. Though I had a good fight, the Demonic Army Commander couldn’t have fought me with all his might.”

“That must be it.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled softly and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you for your honesty. It has put my mind at ease.”

“You’re welcome.”

Having lost both his disciple and his brother, his anger must have reached its peak. We had become mortal enemies, there was no doubt about it. And yet the Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not show even the slightest bit of anger. This was a testament to his incredible self-control.

Before leaving the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at my father.

When he first visited me, he had threatened twice that he would bring my head to my father. This implied a strong relationship with my father.

So, shouldn’t the Blood Heaven Blade Demon say something like this at this moment?

―Cult Leader, how could you do this to me? If you were going to arrest my brother, you should have called me first to handle it. I’m truly disappointed, very disappointed indeed!

However, there was no hint of disappointment in the eyes of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. My father’s gaze towards him was as usual.

“You should go rest now since we need to prepare for the funeral.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Cult Leader.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon bowed respectfully and turned away. He walked across the red carpet without glancing at me even once.

After he left, Sima Myung finally spoke up.

“Thank you for your hard work. Thanks to the solid evidence gathered by you, Second Young Master, we were able to resolve the case without any issues. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thanks for your concern, I am uninjured.”

Sima Myung must have had many questions about this unexpected outcome, but he did not ask me. Since it was my father who entrusted this case to me, he must have thought it was ultimately a matter between my father and me.

“The Cult Leader has decided to reward the Second Young Master for his great service.”

A servant from Heavenly Demon Pavilion brought a long wooden box. From his cautious steps, I could tell how important its contents were.

When the lid, adorned with elegant and luxurious patterns, was opened, a sword lay inside.

When I confirmed it was the Black Demon Sword, I was astonished. It was the second most precious sword after the Heavenly Demon Sword.

“The Cult Leader has bestowed the Black Demon Sword to the Young Master.”

I was so happy that I couldn’t help but smile brightly. Unable to hide my joy, I made a playful comment.

“If you were going to give me a sword, it should be the noble White Flower Sword that suits my character.”

My father, with a look that said, “As if”, responded.

“The sword that suits you is the Black Demon Sword.”

“You don’t know your son at all. Sword, what do you think?”

I slowly drew the Black Demon Sword.

The cold energy emanating from the sword filled the room. Since I hadn’t infused it with any power, this was purely the sword’s own aura.

The moment I drew the sword, I knew. I knew that this sword was mine, a sword that suited me perfectly.

“Isn’t this too extravagant a reward?”

In response to my modesty, Sima Myung spoke on behalf of my father.

“It’s not excessive. The Demonic Army Commander issue had been one of the most difficult problems for our cult.”

“So, you’ve dumped that troublesome matter on me.”

“We didn’t expect the Second Young Master to handle it so cleanly.”

Sima Myung, once again impressed, asked my father.

“Did you anticipate this outcome, Cult Leader?”

My father shook his head.

“I just hoped he wouldn’t get himself killed while showing off.”

I knew that wasn’t the case.

He must have sent me because he trusted me. He knew I had mastered the Soaring Sword Art, and he believed I wouldn’t be easily defeated, especially after taking the Demon Essence Elixir in the Heavenly Cave. Of course, he wouldn’t have predicted the outrageous final outcome that was the Demonic Army Commander’s death.

And I understood why my father handed me the sword. It was to say this to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

― I acknowledge your efforts, so at least in this matter, do not touch my son.

It was a silent warning. The astute Blood Heaven Blade Demon would not miss this message.

“Thank you, Father.”

I held up the sword, properly showing my gratitude, and then left the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

On my way back to my quarters, someone called out to me.

“Young Master, the weather is nice. Why don’t you take a break?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was sitting in an open space in front of the garden.

Right, this old man wouldn’t just leave. That would have been way too simple.

I slowly walked over and sat across from him. His gaze was fixed on the Black Demon Sword at my waist. I could feel him silently clenching his teeth. He must have held a deep grudge, but he wouldn’t dare touch me.

“It seems this summer will be unusually hot.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouted.

“You little brat, who’s still wet behind the ears! How dare you ambush and kill my brother? I’ll dismember you today and scatter your remains on my brother’s grave!”

The demonic energy he released swept around us. The flowers in the garden withered instantly. How had he hidden such energy in that gaunt body?

As I gathered my internal energy to counter the demonic energy, I tried to maintain my composure.

In the next moment, as if by magic, the demonic energy vanished, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grinned and said,

“Originally, I should have said this, right?”

He tried to poke my side again with the hilt of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber.

This time, however, I blocked the thrusting hilt with my palm and shouted back,

“You damn old man, who’s aged with your ass! Who do you think you are, undermining our cult’s discipline and satisfying your own greed? If you step up for your corrupt brother, I’ll break your gaunt body like a fucking reed!”

I too smiled broadly and added,

“If you had said that, I would have responded like this, right?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, momentarily stunned, burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

His booming laughter was so loud that the demons standing guard in the distance turned to look our way.

Then, suddenly, he stopped laughing. His face turned stoic as if he had never laughed at all, a true reflection of his volatile emotions.

“Still, you could’ve let it slide for my sake, couldn’t you?”

“I would’ve handled it nicely if possible. I intended to resolve it by having him step down from his position. However, he crossed the line—well, there was no line to begin with.”

Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded. How could he not know the situation involving his younger brother? He wasn’t someone indifferent to the internal politics of the cult.

“You knew about your brother’s corruption within the Demonic Army, didn’t you?”

“I knew.”

“Why did you let it be?”

“He wouldn’t listen to me. Besides, if you look closely, I’m not exactly as clean as white cloth myself.”

I was surprised by the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s candidness about his relationship with his brother.

‘This is when I need to be cautious.’

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was undoubtedly an emotional person. He also knew how to use those emotions to his advantage.

“When I heard my brother was dead, honestly, I felt relieved. At least now, that rascal wouldn’t be obstructing my path.”

“I understand that feeling.”

He widened his small, torn eyes as if to say, ‘Really? How could you understand?’

“Because it would be the same for me as hearing the news of my brother’s death. Knowing that I didn’t have to deal with it myself would bring me relief as well.”

Our gazes tangled in the air. Once again, I saw a cold, ardent flame in his eyes.

What did he see in mine? What are you seeing in me?

I couldn’t discern what he was thinking.

Despite the relief he spoke of, he might still be contemplating killing me, the enemy who killed his brother. Or perhaps he had let the past drift away with the clouds.

I have no regrets.

If I can’t survive the battle with the Eight Demon Supremes, if that’s all I’m capable of, I’ll die at the hands of Hwa Moogi anyway. I must trample over people like you without thought and move forward. That’s the only path to survival.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon finally responded to the greeting I had given him at the beginning, looking up at the sky.

“Yes, it’s going to be hot this year.”

He fanned himself gently with the large blade of the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, already feeling the heat.

One thing was certain. This summer’s heat wouldn’t be just because of the sun.

I looked up at the sky alongside him, shading my forehead with my hand.

“Fortunately, I don’t feel the heat.”

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