Absolute Regression

The younger of the two men stepped forward first, cupping his hands in greeting.

“I am Sotai from Shaanxi. I have always admired the Divine Cult, and by a stroke of luck, I have had the chance to meet the Demon Supreme. This person here is my master.”

The elderly man followed with his own greeting.

“I am Jongmak from Shaanxi. It is an honor to meet the many heroes of the Divine Cult.”

There were no master and disciple pair named Sotai and Jongmak living in Shaanxi. They never had, and they never would.

Their true identities were those of the Yunnan Twin Freaks, also known as the Faceless Monsters.

Masters of disguise, they could deceive about their age effortlessly. Sometimes they appeared as skinny men, other times as fat men, merchants, monks, and even women.

In reality, the young man who had greeted first, known as Ilgwe among the Twin Freaks, was older than the elder, Egwe, who was disguised as an old man.

They had disguised themselves as various people, deceiving others and committing countless atrocities in the process. They plundered merchants’ wealth and killed strangers simply because they looked unpleasant.

Their lust was insatiable, and they would rape any beautiful woman they laid eyes on, murdering anyone who tried to stop them.

The Martial Alliance had declared them public enemies of the martial world, but they had never been caught.

Their martial arts skills were formidable, and their mastery of disguise made them difficult to apprehend.

They lived long lives. At one point, there was a saying: “Heavens are not indifferent. They are just already dead.”

This saying emerged because of these two.

And crucially, these bastards had ruined my life.

Ilgwe, disguised as a young man, stepped forward and spoke.

“It would be an honor for our family if the Second Young Master could teach me a lesson.”

What was meant to happen would happen.

In my life before regression, this same event had occurred around this time.

I had been an utter fool back then. An ultimate fool among fools, a complete idiot.

Why had I accepted the duel?

Of course, back then, it wasn’t here but in a different situation where I dueled with this man.

At that time, they had also come with Ma Bul. The Demonic Buddha had introduced these Yunnan Twin Freaks at a banquet attended by the demonic practitioners of our sect, setting things up so I couldn’t refuse.

He had played on my psyche perfectly. Instead of advising me to teach that guy a lesson, he scolded Ilgwe.

“What are you thinking, challenging such an esteemed person to a duel? This is not your place. If you make a mistake and the Second Young Master gets hurt, you won’t be able to keep your life.”

Back then, he spoke like that, just as he does now.

To make someone flip a table, saying, “Flip it like a man!” isn’t as effective as saying, “Would that coward flip it?” Just like that, my twenty-year-old self, who was obsessed with others’ opinions, fell for such a shallow provocation.

Moreover, at that time, I was desperately trying to recover my reputation after being defeated by Gu Pyungho in the New Demon Skirmish.

I personally proved that the lower one’s self-esteem, the more easily they fall for provocation.

The result was disastrous.

I naïvely thought I wouldn’t lose to someone my age, but we weren’t the same age after all.

My arm broke, my ribs cracked, and my face was so bruised that I couldn’t go outside for a while.

The problem wasn’t the physical injuries. My pride was shattered by the fact that I lost to someone my age, and I was tormented by the self-loathing that I had fallen so easily for his provocation.

Not only my father, but even the martial artists of our sect were disappointed in me. Being beaten and humiliated by an outsider, my authority and prestige plummeted.

The Faceless Monsters fled that very day, so we couldn’t even uncover their identities at the time.

Those bastards appeared before my eyes again. So, how could I not be excited when they followed the Demonic Buddha into my room?

“Of course, it’s not good to get this precious body hurt. These days, new masters are incredibly scary.”

Just like this, one can avoid a situation. The more confident someone is in their skills, the more relaxed they are. Of course, I don’t intend to act like that today.

“But it would be impolite to refuse such an earnest request, wouldn’t it?”

I was curious. Did my brother know what kind of people these guys hanging around with the Demonic Buddha were? Brother, this is a problem whether you know it or not.

“Thank you for accepting the duel. Indeed, you live up to your famous reputation, Second Young Master.”

“But you’ve been showering me with praise since earlier. Have you heard anything about my reputation? If you know anything I’ve done recently, just name one.”

Surprised that I asked so bluntly, Ilgwe hesitated.

“I’m not very bright, so I don’t remember well. I’m uneducated and lack manners. I hope you can understand, Second Young Master.”

“As I expected. Seeing as you immediately challenged me to a duel upon first meeting, it’s clear you lack manners. And judging by the fact that you provoke me without knowing my skills or character, you’re definitely not bright. But it’s a relief that you at least know yourself well.”

At my mockery, both of the Twin Freaks’ expressions hardened simultaneously. I could feel them struggling to suppress their barely concealed malice.

“Since I’m not bright, let’s have some fun with our bodies, Second Young Master.”

“Let’s do that.”

With that, we went outside and stood facing each other in the yard. Everyone who had been inside followed us out.

“Will you use fists and palms?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ll be using sword techniques, so be careful not to let your hands get cut off by my blade.”

“You should be careful too, Second Young Master. You might have to wield that sword with your left hand in the future.”

As he stared at me intensely, trying to create tension, Gu Cheonpa stepped forward.

“I’ll be heading off first. As I’ve aged, I’ve found I need more sleep at night.”

He seemed disinterested in the outcome of the duel and didn’t appear keen to linger where Geom Muyang and I were together.

Then, the One-Slash Sword Supreme followed suit.

“I’ll be leaving as well. Lack of sleep makes my skin rough.”

As the two of them took their leave, Geom Muyang respectfully bowed to them.

“Then please go ahead. I’ll visit you separately later.”

The question my brother wanted to ask was voiced by the Demonic Buddha instead.

“Aren’t you worried about the Second Young Master?”

Without even glancing at me, old man Blade threw out a casual remark as he walked away.

“Worry, my ass.”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme walked behind him. At least for this moment, they were of one mind.

They knew it was best to avoid any gossip about being present at such a fight, and above all, they didn’t have the slightest concern for me.

Surprisingly, Jangho also started to leave.

“Well, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be heading off as well.”

As the quick-witted bear tried to leave, the nine-tailed fox followed suit.

“Then I’ll be off too.”

I spoke to Lee Ahn.

“Lee Ahn, are you leaving too?”

“Yes. I need to go train.”

“Even if no one else does, you should stay and at least pretend to be concerned. You’ve changed!”

“Of course, I’ve changed. Thanks to someone constantly singing about how I need to follow my heart, I’ve changed.”

As she walked away, she looked back at Seo Daeryong.

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’m staying to watch. I think it’ll be beneficial for my martial arts training.”

Then, Gu Cheonpa, who was walking away in the distance, shouted at him.

“There’s nothing beneficial for you to see. Go get some sleep.”

With his master saying that, Seo Daeryong had no choice but to leave. He looked at me and smiled.

“So he says. He has such sharp ears.”

As even Seo Daeryong left, Jeong Dae moved as well.

“If I stay when everyone else is going, I’d look too idle, wouldn’t I?”

With those words, everyone left one by one.

“You’re all too much!”

No one turned back at my hollow cry.

I understood. Each had their own reasons for leaving, but their actions were filled with respect for me. They were showing it to my brother.

We trust the Second Young Master this much.

By leaving, they demonstrated their loyalty to me in their own refined way.

Now, only Gowol, who stayed with me, remained.

“You truly are my loyal subject.”

“I was just about to say that I’d go in and sleep first. I don’t enjoy watching fights.”

“That won’t do. Someone has to stay and watch.”

“Then please finish it quickly.”

“I will.”

Everyone watched this scene with surprised and dumbfounded expressions.

Feeling completely ignored, the Faceless Monsters openly displayed their displeasure, and even Geom Muyang, who rarely showed emotions, couldn’t completely hide his surprise at the situation.

Ilgwe stepped forward and spoke.

“The spectators have left, but my fist hasn’t lost its strength. Let’s have a match.”

He was in a hurry, worried that the duel might be canceled.

Don’t worry, villain.

“Let’s do it. It’s a fight I’ve waited for a long time.”

I’ve waited far longer than you can imagine.

I accepted the duel not just for my revenge, but to punish them for their misdeeds.

These guys were included in the absolute evil I mentioned.

Some are called absolute evil because they are too powerful, but there are also those who are absolute evil because they are cunning and malicious like these guys.

Those who are skilled in disguise and can hide anywhere, making it nearly impossible to catch them. They treat others’ lives like flies but hold their own lives as precious, doing anything to survive.

These kinds of guys, who live well until they die of old age, are also absolute evil.

Old man Heavens must not have liked the saying that it’s dead, seeing as it sent these guys my way.

“Alright, I won’t hold back just because you’re the Second Young Master, so be careful!”

Ilgwe was relentless from the first move. No matter how the situation unfolded, their mission was to beat me and disappear.

I wonder how much they received from Ma Bul? To come all the way to our cult to deal with me, they must have been paid a lot.

Dodging the flying fist, I lightly grabbed his wrist.

Never would he have imagined that his wrist would be grabbed on the first move, so he was shocked.

He tried to shake off my grip, but my hold was firm and unyielding. Just then!

As he widened his eyes in disbelief, my sword flashed out like a lightning strike.

Swoosh!

With a single strike, his wrist was severed.

“Agh!”

A scream burst out of him, and he instinctively tried to stop the bleeding from his wrist.

Shhh! Swoosh!

Without a moment’s hesitation, I cut off his other wrist.

“Aaahhhh!”

He screamed in agony, flailing his severed hands as blood sprayed like a fountain.

Blood rained down around us. I didn’t avoid it, and neither did my brother.

Amidst the pouring blood, we just stared at each other.

At that moment, Egwe launched a surprise attack on my back. He intended to subdue me and then treat Ilgwe. I was about to turn and block it when I saw my brother draw his sword, so I stayed put.

Slaaaash!

A rough sword energy shot out in an instant, grazing past my face, but I didn’t even blink as I watched my brother.

The sword energy that grazed me split Egwe’s body in half as he charged from behind.

In an instant, the place turned into a sea of blood.

I asked the Demonic Buddha,

“What exactly were you expecting?”

It was a question loaded with many implications. Though my brother was far away, you heard and saw everything about me.

Did you think those Yunnan Twin Freaks bastards could beat and humiliate me? Did you think I would end up cornered in a room, like before?

I removed the mask from the nearly unconscious Ilgwe’s face.

Rip.

A middle-aged man’s face was revealed underneath.

“Who are you?”

I asked to gauge my brother’s reaction, hoping to reveal his identity.

Ilgwe only glared at me with resentment and said nothing.

“I’ll cut off your ankles too.”

As I raised my sword to cut his ankles, he shouted,

“…We are the Faceless Monsters.”

Thud!

At that moment, Ilgwe’s head exploded. Golden light briefly shimmered around the blood that flowed before disappearing. It was the Demonic Buddha who killed him.

Ma Bul’s eyes glowed with a golden light, and an overwhelming aura pressed down on the surroundings. This wasn’t the Demonic Buddha who was bickering with the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He spoke coldly, exuding a fierceness unmatched by anyone.

“What did I expect? I wanted to show your brother the reality. I wanted to show him that this is the kind of person he’s competing against, someone who can cut down the Yunnan Twin Freaks in just one move. I wanted to show him that this is the reality he’s facing, and with the Black Demon Sword, which the Cult Leader never gave to him.”

He wasn’t speaking to me. He was speaking to my brother.

This man, Demonic Buddha! He’s undoubtedly an evil person, but his concern for my brother is genuine.

My gaze shifted to Geom Muyang. Like me, blood was dripping down his face.

Geom Muyang asked me in a calm tone, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m not, thanks to you.”

“I’m glad to see that your martial arts have improved. It’s good for our cult as well.”

“My martial arts have improved, but my brother’s acting has gotten better.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not someone who takes just anyone around, are you?”

“If you’re asking whether I knew they were the Faceless Monsters, I didn’t. Let’s see each other tomorrow morning when we greet Father.”

With that, my brother and the Demonic Buddha left the place. I recognized my brother’s ability to stay calm even in this situation. Now I understand why Gu Cheonpa supported him in the past. It made sense.

I walked over to the corpses of the Yunnan Twin Freaks sprawled on the ground. I killed them quickly and easily because I didn’t want to attribute any significance to their deaths. For people like them, even allowing a last word would be too generous. Even the cold rice served in prison would be too much. The best punishment for such scum is to kill them like insects and forget they ever existed.

I rummaged through the corpses and found some promissory notes. Each of them had a promissory note worth 100,000 nyang.

“Take note. With 200,000 nyang, you could beat up the Second Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Gowol gave a faint smile at my joke. I handed the promissory notes to him.

“Use this for what you’re working on. Or do you think this dirty money from their pockets is beneath you?”

“Money doesn’t come with a name tag. Its value is determined by how it’s used at the time.”

Gowol never makes me regret. That’s why I put so much effort into bringing him here.

“I’ll take care of the bodies. Go inside and wash off the blood.”

I looked up at the sky and muttered to myself, “With my brother’s return, it’s like a blood rain is falling from the burning heavens.”

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