Absolute Regression

After I returned after meeting the One-Slash Sword Supreme, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was waiting at the usual spot.

“What did that fox say?”

He was on edge because of the One-Slash Sword Supreme.

“She told me to cut ties with you, sir.”

“As expected! What did I say? Didn’t I tell you it would be like that? Did she give a reason?”

“She said our ideals differ. She finds you too free-spirited, sir…”

“What nonsense.”

A cold demonic aura swirled out from him.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“What?”

I deliberately provoked the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a wide smile.

“You have to weigh your options when you can. Wouldn’t you do the same, sir?”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn’t get angry. He would have done the same.

“Currently, you’re in a favorable position, sir. Do you think she can offer something better than Celestial Elixir?”

“She might. That woman would do anything to ruin me.”

“Why did you and the One-Slash Sword Supreme have such a fall out in the first place?”

After a brief pause, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

“Do you need a reason to hate someone?”

I knew the reason.

Both had reasons not to trust anyone. They were villains if you could call them that, and their thirst for power was second to none.

“Would you like a drink? If you go back like this, you’ll just be left feeling complicated and bitter.”

“What do you take me for?”

“Rationality? I don’t think it’s a virtue. When you’re upset, you should be upset. When you’re in a bad mood, you should vent. Come on, let’s go. I’ll treat you to a drink today.”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then suddenly, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon leaped and said,

“I’ll be waiting in Maga Village.”

In an instant, he disappeared far away.

Old man’s temper.

But it was definitely different from the time he first came to me and poked at my side to give me bruises.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was waiting for me in front of the Flowing Wind Tavern, run by Jo Chunbae.

“I thought you’d be waiting in the brothel.”

“I hate places with women.”

“That’s unexpected.”

“Unexpected? Why? Do I seem like someone who’d enjoy women?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that your late brother liked brothels.”

“Don’t ruin the mood. Stop talking about that guy.”

“Yes, sir.”

I had brought it up on purpose. To prevent the wounds in his heart from festering. Though it didn’t seem necessary for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

I took a seat at the Flowing Wind Tavern and asked, “Why did you choose this tavern?”

“They opened a branch of the Underworld Pavilion across the street.”

It seemed he stopped here after seeing that while passing by.

“Be careful. If you hit someone on the street for no reason, even you could end up being caught by me.”

At my joke, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked incredulous.

Jo Chunbae greeted us warmly. “Welcome, Pavilion Lord.”

“It’s been a while.”

“We are honored by your visit.”

“I come here because the drinks and snacks are good.”

After Jo Chunbae took our order and disappeared towards the kitchen, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

“You’re unnecessarily kind.”

“Is there anything wrong with being kind?”

“Getting attached can lead to problems. Take that owner just now, for example. Do you think the food will come out better if you’re kind to him, or if you threaten to kill him if it’s not good? In that sense, the First Young Master has an advantage over you.”

“Certainly, being ruthless makes life easier.”

“It’s not too late.”

“Even so, I won’t climb aboard that ruthless wagon.”

“Why not?”

“Because I believe the food made joyfully while whistling will taste better than food made trembling in fear.”

“One day, that person will use your kindness to ask for something bigger. If you refuse, they’ll criticize and curse you. That’s human nature.”

“One day, that person will repay this small kindness with something greater. Perhaps even saving my life. That’s also human nature.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

We drank together.

“To be honest, I think you’re more emotional than I am, Elder.”

“How did you block my strike with those eyes? You misjudged me badly.”

I thought I judged him well. Throughout all our interactions, he had expended many emotions. Even now, he was engaging in a conversation he never had in his life.

“Since we’re on the topic, let me say this: from now on, you should manage the Blade Ghosts and your disciples well. Otherwise, you’ll keep clashing with the Underworld Pavilion.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon slowly raised his head and looked at me coldly.

“You’re becoming increasingly arrogant.”

“You are the arrogant one, Elder.”

“What?”

“Are you not underestimating our cult and my father? Just because you are the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Does it matter what your disciple does? Isn’t that right?”

Bang!

The table shattered, and the bottles of alcohol and dishes of snacks fell to the floor, breaking.

“You’re too arrogant. Sometimes I really want to beat you to death.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, glaring at me, shouted at the innocent Jo Chunbae.

“What are you standing there gawking at? Bring another table here and get us new drinks and snacks!”

“This is not how you handle such situations.”

I stood up and moved to the next table.

Then I placed some money on the table.

“Sorry about this. This should cover the damages and compensate for today’s lost sales.”

Jo Chunbae waved his hands, refusing to take the money.

“It’s alright. Really, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine with me. Take it and set us up with a new table of drinks and snacks, enough to break the table legs.”

“Yes, sir!”

Taking the money, Jo Chunbae quickly ran to the kitchen.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon scowled deeply.

“Are you telling me to do something like that?”

“If you don’t want to do that, then don’t go around breaking things.”

“Are you trying to teach me good deeds while calling me the Demon Supreme?”

“The demonic path I aim to establish does not involve breaking taverns out of annoyance.”

“You really are something else!”

“Stop shouting and come sit here.”

I softly appeased him by patting the seat next to me.

Eventually, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat down at the table where I had moved.

“Arrogant brat. You really are a madman!”

He glared at me coldly and said,

“If you betray me, I’ll kill you.”

Jo Chunbae, who was bringing new drinks, flinched but pretended not to hear and placed the drinks and cups before running away to the kitchen.

I filled a new cup with alcohol and handed it to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“Did you mean what you just said?”

“Yes, I meant it.”

“Then be truly loyal to me. That kind of threat is for situations where you have given your genuine loyalty. When you are betrayed and discarded by someone after being truly loyal, that’s when you can drive a sword into your master’s heart.”

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn’t argue back.

I filled my cup to the brim and offered a toast.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon scoffed and drank alone. Though our cups did not clink, in my heart, I heard the sound of them touching.

* * *

A person entered the One-Slash Sword Supreme’s quarters.

It was Sa Woojong, her right-hand man.

“The Second Young Master is currently drinking with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.”

One-Slash Sword Supreme, who was standing with her back turned, remained silent.

“He’s an arrogant bastard.”

Only then did One-Slash Sword Supreme turn her body and glare coldly at Sa Woojong. Sa Woojong bowed his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Watch your mouth. There’s nothing more vulgar than speaking ill of someone behind their back.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Sa Woojong had intentionally insulted Geom Mugeuk, knowing that the Sword Supreme would be angry. He believed he was expressing the emotions she couldn’t outwardly show.

Sa Woojong believed he held a special place with the Sword Supreme. She was respectful even to gatekeepers, but she only treated him comfortably and informally. He felt special.

“The Second Young Master I knew isn’t the same.”

In just a few months since the martial arts competition, the storm Geom Mugeuk had caused was growing larger.

“It’s just a tempest in a teacup.”

Sa Woojong underestimated him, but the One-Slash Sword Supreme thought differently.

“What if that teacup can contain the entire martial world? That greedy old man gave up the Celestial Elixir to him. It’s as if he gave up everything he had. The Blade Demon must have seen the potential for him to become a successor.”

“Did you also see such potential in the Second Young Master?”

Geom Mugeuk had certainly shown unexpected traits. But it wasn’t enough to justify giving him a rare elixir like the Celestial Elixir.

That’s why it was irritating. Maybe the Blood Heaven Blade Demon saw something she couldn’t. That she couldn’t see what that damned old man did? It hurt her pride and annoyed her.

“Take a rest for today. I’ve prepared someone new.”

The One-Slash Sword Supreme looked at Sa Woojong coldly, about to say something. But her lips, which had started to move, ultimately didn’t utter a word.

She quickly turned and entered her quarters.

Sa Woojong’s expression was exceedingly complex as he watched her retreating figure, but his eyes were burning with intensity.

As she entered the quarters and manipulated a secret device, the floor opened to reveal a hidden passage.

She descended the passage. The further she went, the darker it became, but she was familiar with the way, having gone down it a few times before.

There was a long corridor underground. She walked along it and opened the door at the end.

Inside was a lavishly decorated bedroom.

A young man, who had been sitting on a large bed, quickly stood up. (EN : F to him)

The One-Slash Sword Supreme walked slowly to a dressing table with a large mirror and sat down. The young man’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, were full of fear.

The One-Slash Sword Supreme spoke softly to the young man in the mirror.

“It’s alright, take off your clothes.”

* * *

After finishing the drinking session with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, I stopped by Lee Ahn’s training hall on my way back.

The intense heat radiating from inside was enough to show how hard she was training.

She moved around the training hall, sweating profusely with her heavy body. Despite the grueling training that pushed her to her limits, every move she made was purposeful.

Watching her, I felt it was time to teach her a new martial art.

“Oh! You’re here, Young Master?”

“You seem to be training hard these days.”

“How did you know?”

“You seem to have lost some weight.”

“Really?”

Even though she knew it wasn’t true, Lee Ahn beamed. Perhaps because we mentioned her weight, she asked a question she had been holding back.

“Young Master, was what you said before true? About being able to cure my side effects?”

Given her personality, she must have thought long and hard before asking this question. She must have worried about how to react if I cruely answered, ‘I was joking.’

Even though the person who taught her the All-Body Petrification Technique said that the side effects could never be eliminated, she couldn’t help but ask.

“Can it really be cured?”

This was the first time I had seen her so nervous.

“It can be cured.”

“Really?”

It was time to tell her the truth.

“I know a surgical technique that can eliminate the side effects of the All-Body Petrification Technique.”

I had found this method while wandering all over the Central Plains looking for the materials for the Great Technique. With the determination to restore her to her original body upon my return. Thinking back, my past life wasn’t just a desolate path solely for revenge.

“What kind of surgery is it?”

“It’s called the Body Poison Purification Technique.”

“…Body Poison Purification Technique?”

She repeated the words several times before asking again.

“How did you learn it?”

“That’s a secret. You know, there are many secrets to be kept regarding martial arts.”

“Yes, I know. I understand.”

Her voice was trembling throughout the conversation.

“You can perform the surgery now, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why haven’t you done it for me?”

“It’s a very dangerous and difficult procedure. Plus, there might be unforeseen variables during the surgery. That’s why I’ll perform it when my martial arts skills have improved significantly.”

“Oh! So there really is a cure!”

Her face filled with joy.

“You’ll have to risk your life. We don’t know what might happen during the procedure. Are you still willing to do it?”

“Yes!”

Her answer was without hesitation.

“This is disappointing.”

“What? Did I make a mistake?”

“I knew you would say that. I thought you might say, ‘If I die, I won’t be able to protect you, so I won’t undergo the surgery.’”

It was a joke to prevent that possibility.

“You told me to live my life, didn’t you? Wasn’t that it?”

She then smiled brightly, as if to show it was a joke.

Now I understand. The way she was just now, that’s her true self.

Her original feelings, suppressed by loyalty and a sense of responsibility—the natural feelings that any person would have. I want to help her find those feelings again.

“Lee Ahn.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Is there any place in the Central Plains you want to visit?”

“No, nowhere.”

She had only ever looked at me her whole life, so there probably wasn’t anywhere she had properly visited.

“Later, let’s travel around the Central Plains together.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We’ll visit all the famous places and see all the beautiful sights. I’ll let you taste all the renowned dishes. I know quite a few places.”

“Is that a promise?”

“You have to promise me too.”

“Promise what?”

“That you won’t abandon me then.”

“How could I ever abandon you, Young Master? Even if the world turns upside down, that would never happen.”

Even if you become the most beautiful woman in the world and all men adore you, would you still say that?

“We’ll see about that.”

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