Absolute Regression

“Training ends today.”

At Jangho’s words, the Enforcement Martial Artists showed their disappointment. Although the training had been extremely tough, with countless complaints, they had gained a lot from it.

Their martial arts skills hadn’t improved drastically, but their previously slackened spirits had been sharply reined in.

For experts like the Enforcement Martial Artists, differences in mental strength could translate into differences in skill.

Moreover, Jangho had taken the time to correct their stances and habits, leading to practical improvements in their martial arts. As a result, many had seen real advancements in their skills.

Until the very end, Jangho provided individual feedback on how to correct their stances and what training they should pursue in the future.

Who would have thought the Enforcement Martial Artists, who had undergone hellish training, would end up saying this?

“Can’t we train a bit more?”

At that moment, I, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward.

Everyone was shocked at the mention of the Demonic Army Commander. They had been so focused on training that they hadn’t heard any outside news.

“Congratulations.”

At someone’s congratulations, cheers and applause erupted.

Jangho left them with a final farewell.

“I will never forget the time I spent with you. Until next time. No, wait, it would be a disaster for me if I saw you again. Let’s never meet again then!”

Along with that joking farewell and laughs, Jangho left the place.

I stepped onto the podium where Jangho had stood. The Enforcement Martial Artists’ gazes were noticeably different from the first day of training.

“Listen up you, first and last martial artists to be trained by the Demonic Army Commander!”

A few laughed at my words.

“Now, even if I order you to arrest my father, you’ll go without fear, right?”

Laughter broke out again.

After lightening the mood, I conveyed the message I wanted to give them.

“Martial arts are important, and fighting well is important too. But for those who bear the name of Enforcement Martial Artists, the most important thing is pride. The pride in upholding the sect’s rules and maintaining its order. We walk our path. Understand?”

“Yes!”

“You’ve worked hard in training. I’ve prepared a banquet, so drink and rest to your heart’s content today!”

A cheer of joy way louder than the previous enthusiastic response erupted.

* * *

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was waiting for me at the usual place we met every day.

“Seeing you stand tall here feels like you’re a guardian stone watching over me.”

“Are you teasing me by calling me a blockhead?”

“How could I ever dare?”

I thought he would be furious about bringing in the One-Slash Sword Supreme, but he was unusually calm.

“Congratulations on seating Jangho as the Demonic Army Commander.”

“Thank you.”

I was more tense than ever. I had no idea what this old man might suddenly do.

But today, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was showing an unexpected side, just like Jangho had.

He was very calm. So much so that I wondered if this Blood Heaven Blade Demon was always like this.

This is why you shouldn’t judge a person by just one aspect. Don’t be deceived by the front. I still didn’t know what the back side of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked like.

“How did you persuade the Sword Supreme?”

“If you promise not to get angry, I’ll tell you honestly.”

“I won’t get angry.”

“I used your name to provoke her pride, saying you are the most loyal Demon Supreme. I used you.”

The corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s mouth lifted.

“Then you were fooled. That clever fox wouldn’t have missed your shallow trick.”

He hated the Sword Supreme, but at least he didn’t underestimate her.

The same went for the Sword Supreme. The fact that she got involved in this matter meant she trusted the Blade Demon’s judgment of people.

“That fox will surely try to manipulate you. She’ll prevent you from meeting me because she helped you. What will you do then?”

“For me, you come first, sir.”

“She’ll claim to have helped Jangho.”

“That’s fine since you helped first, sir.”

“Will you still say that if she makes an irresistible offer? Like this.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took out a small box from his robe and handed it to me.

“A promise is a promise.”

I accepted the box and carefully opened it.

The single pill inside, glowing with a blue light, emitted a mystical aura as if it wasn’t from this world.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with a genuinely regretful expression.

“It’s the Celestial Elixir.”

At this moment, I didn’t need to pretend to be surprised. I was truly astonished by his willingness to give away the Celestial Elixir so easily. I had expected him to make excuses, claiming he couldn’t easily part with such a precious elixir.

“Oh! Is this really the Celestial Elixir? How did you obtain it?”

“I’ve kept it for a long time. I’ve saved it without consuming it myself.”

“Are you really giving this to me?”

“Should I take it back?”

“No way.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon drank the liquor in front of him as if his stomach was churning.

Putting down his glass, he spoke.

“Second Young Master, I’ll stake the rest of my life on you.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon revealed his strongest card.

I had once told my father that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon wasn’t worth keeping.

Now, I needed to correct that statement.

If you’re going to be this straightforward, then I, too, will properly keep you by my side.

The Celestial Elixir that was supposed to go to my brother came to me, changing the fates of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and myself. It wasn’t a forced decision, but rather a ‘willing’ one, making the change even more significant.

“Thank you for trusting me.”

After respectfully cupping my hands, I made one request.

“I will take the elixir right here, so could you stand guard?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was taken aback.

“You want to take the elixir in front of me?”

“Yes. Since you gave it to me, I believe it’s right to take it in front of you.”

Standing guard during energy circulation had a symbolic meaning. For a martial artist, it was the final stage of trust.

“You mean to say you trust me?”

“Isn’t the fact that I’m taking this Celestial Elixir proof enough? If it were poisoned, I would have to do whatever you ask to get the antidote.”

An interesting glint flashed in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes.

“Why do you believe I didn’t poison it?”

“Because you’re not someone who would choose such a dishonorable method.”

“I think I’m quite dishonorable.”

“There are various kinds of dishonor. From what I’ve seen, you’re not someone who would break a promise even if it means flipping the table.”

“What if your intuition is wrong?”

“Then I’ll think about it then. Now, please stand guard for a moment.”

In truth, it was a safe gamble. Because I knew the Blood Heaven Blade Demon detested poisons and evil arts to the point of shuddering.

I sat in a lotus position and, without hesitation, took the Celestial Elixir.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at me with a surprised expression. He hadn’t expected me to actually take the elixir in front of him.

The Celestial Elixir was something I had never seen even in my previous life.

‘Elixir, please dissolve well.’

The medicinal effect of the Celestial Elixir started to spread throughout my body, melting from my mouth down my throat. It was far more potent than the Demon Essence Elixir I had taken earlier in the Heavenly Cave.

The blood vessels strengthened by the Heavenly Meridian Strengthening Technique welcomed the immense energy, opening wide like a thoroughfare. The energy from the elixir, rushing like a thousand-li horse, was gladly received by the vessels, spreading through the fine capillaries of the body like a gust of wind.

I concentrated all my efforts on energy circulation to perfectly integrate this massive energy into my inner strength.

After several rounds of meticulous energy circulation, I was able to store the elixir’s miraculous energy in my dantian.

When I opened my eyes, I saw the Blood Heaven Blade Demon a little distance away, arms crossed, looking at me.

“How was the taste of the elixir?”

“It was sweet as honey. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious in my life.”

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

He was lamenting that he couldn’t taste it himself.

“I’m confident it has been digested ten times more effectively than if you had taken it yourself.”

Now, even if I faced the Blood Heaven Blade Demon right now, no one could say I lost due to insufficient inner strength. My dantian was brimming with pure inner energy.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon crouched down in front of me. Up close, I noticed he had more wrinkles than I had thought.

“Hey, Second Young Master.”

“Yes, sir.”

He looked into my eyes and asked.

“What are you? What made you turn my heart upside down and give you the Celestial Elixir?”

I immediately summoned my inner strength, releasing my demonic energy. Like a volcano erupting with lava, the demonic energy burst forth. It was a cold yet stern aura, different from what I had shown him until now.

“I am the one who will lead you in the future. That is, if you live until then.”

In the suffocating aura that pressed down on him, various emotions flitted across the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s face. At the very least, he didn’t mock me, even if he was angry.

When I retracted my demonic energy, the frozen atmosphere around us thawed.

“I admit, you have guts.”

“I have one question for you as well.”

“Go ahead.”

“What is it that you ultimately desire, sir?”

“What’s there to want at this age? I’m just living as I’ve always lived, driven by inertia.”

“Isn’t that too passionate for someone who says that?”

“Me?”

“When you push me, you seem like a young person. I can feel a blazing fire.”

At that moment, I saw the flames in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s eyes once again. He was still standing alone in the fire.

“Do I really?”

“Yes.”

In contrast, he spoke as if he wasn’t confident about himself.

“That’s fortunate. Recently, I thought I had completely cooled off…”

I could guess what he was feeling. No matter how many ambitions, desires, and longings you put in a basket, time inevitably takes some of them away.

“Pour me a drink.”

“A drink? I lost this bet.”

“The moment you gave me the Celestial Elixir without hesitation, you won the bet. I’ll accept your drink, sir.”

“Are you sincere?”

“Please guide me well from now on.”

If he was this challenging for me to deal with, how difficult would it be for my enemies? I planned to make the Blood Heaven Blade Demon truly my person. I wasn’t sure if it would be possible, though.

Moved, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured a full glass.

“Here, take it.”

I drank the liquor he gave me in one gulp.

“Let’s do our best from now on!”

“Yes, please only play tricks within what I can handle.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had flinched for a moment, burst out laughing.

“Hahaha!”

Since becoming the Demon Supreme, I was probably the first person to say such a thing to his face.

“Let’s have another drink.”

“Good!”

I knew. Even though he was laughing so heartily now, he hadn’t completely opened his heart yet. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wasn’t someone who could be judged by what little could be seen through a slightly open door.

I didn’t know what lay beyond that door.

As my father had said, you could never truly know someone’s heart. I decided not to predict or make assumptions about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. I would judge only by what I could see.

And our relationship would be decided on the day that door fully opened.

Whether I burn to death in your flames, you die by my sword, or we become eternal friends, that day will surely come.

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